Akwa Ibom women on Saturday endorsed President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for re-election at the grand rally to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The event, themed ‘Rights, Justice, Action’, was held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, according to a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong, on Sunday.

The wife of the President and First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was in attendance as a special guest.

In a proclamation read by the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, on behalf of the women, they said the IWD was most appropriate for the voice of Akwa Ibom women to be heard.

Endorsing the president, the women said Tinubu has “demonstrated bold, reform-driven and visionary leadership through the Renewed Hope Agenda by implementing decisive economic and structural reforms to stabilise the nation, strengthen public finances and lay a sustainable foundation for inclusive national growth.”

According to the women, Akpabio was endorsed for re-election for providing purposeful leadership in the National Assembly by ensuring legislative stability and high-quality representation.

“Whereas under his leadership, the Senate has fostered a constructive and fruitful relationship between the executive and the legislature, enabling the advancement of key national reforms and policies aimed at strengthening governance, economic recovery and national development.

“Whereas the Senate President has demonstrated legislative diplomacy and statesmanship, enhancing Nigeria’s democratic institutions, strengthening parliamentary cooperation and promoting the nation’s interests within the global legislative community, now therefore we, the women of Akwa Ibom State in unity and firm conviction hereby proclaimed the endorsement and return to office of Senator Akpabio from 2027 to 2031 as Senator and Senate President,” the women declared.

For Eno, the women said he had demonstrated “superlative performance across multiple sectors and provided compassionate, people-centred leadership through the Arise Agenda with strategic focus on agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, expansion, security management and educational advancement.”

They pledged their collective backing and resolve to mobilise women across the State to achieve their mission of returning the trio to their present positions.

In his remarks, Akpabio thanked the women for the endorsement and said the large turnout of women had demonstrated their resolve to achieve their earlier proclamation about Tinubu, Eno and himself.

He said the patience of the women of Akwa Ibom in waiting since morning to receive the First Lady showed the love they had for the President and his wife. “This shows that you are all ready to vote for the President to come back for a second term,” he said.

Akpabio added that the National Assembly will work with other stakeholders to pass the reserve seat for women bill to enhance women’s representation in the legislature across the country.

On his part, Eno was full of gratitude for the wife of the President, Senator Tinubu, for visiting the State to commission the Elderly Citizens Centre named after her.

He also thanked Tinubu for the coastal highway project, declaring, “in no distant time, we shall go to Lagos within five hours.”

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, commended Akwa Ibom women for their massive turnout to celebrate International Women’s Day and assured that Tinubu was working hard to ensure the growth of Nigeria’s economy and to improve the welfare of women, children, the elderly and the vulnerable.

The celebration featured solidarity speeches, cultural dances, artistic performances and musical concerts. It was attended by wives of Governors and Ministers across Nigeria.