Akpabio Predicts Opposition Will Claim Tinubu's Win Was Rigged

You've probably heard that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, received members of the City Boy Movement, a pro-Tinubu support group, in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja. The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the National Assembly and the group ahead of its nationwide mobilisation activities.

The City Boy Movement, according to its Director-General, Francis Shoga, seeks the continued guidance and support of the National Assembly as it expands its programmes across the country, deepens civic engagement among young Nigerians, and contributes meaningfully to national development. Shoga described the movement as a 'wind blowing across the nation' and said it would ensure President Bola Tinubu has agents in every polling unit to prevent a repeat of votes allegedly lost during the 2023 election.

Akpabio, who is also the Grand Patron of the City Boy Movement, urged members of the group and Nigerian youths to remain focused, avoid cultism, drug abuse, and other social vices as they have an opportunity to shape the country's future through active political participation and support for Tinubu's administration. He also urged them to chart the path of the next administration and belong to the incoming government of Tinubu in 2027.

Akpabio further warned that the opposition would claim Tinubu's re-election was rigged in 2027. He said, 'When the victory of President Bola Tinubu will be announced, you will hear people saying it is rigged. That they did this or that. Ignore all those things and remain focused.' He also emphasized that being a nonentity who whimpers through life is not a tragedy but becoming a failure because of a flaw in character is a tragedy.

The City Boy Movement plans to intensify grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu's re-election and ensure that the President has agents in every polling unit. Akpabio expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a second term despite expected criticism from the opposition.

Akpabio's statement comes as opposition parties have already begun to make noise about the 2027 election. With just over a year to go, the stage is set for a heated election as parties gear up for a showdown. Whether Akpabio's warning will come to pass remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the 2027 election will be a closely watched event.

### The Impact on Nigeria The 2027 election will have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria as it will determine the direction of the country for the next four years. With the opposition already making noise about the election, the stage is set for a heated contest that will test the strength of Nigeria's democratic institutions.