‘You stood by Tinubu in 2023, renew his mandate in 2027,’ Shettima urges Rivers voters

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Rivers State residents to renew the mandate of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, saying the state stood by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election.

Shettima made the appeal on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he thanked Rivers voters for supporting Tinubu’s emergence as president.

He described Rivers as a state that understood the importance of political alliances, saying its people were known for weighing their options, making decisions based on conviction and remaining committed to their choices.

“If there’s one state that understands the mathematics of political alliances, it is Rivers State. You do not jump on a bandwagon. You weigh your choices. You act on conviction. And once you make a choice, you stand by it,” he said.

The vice-president said the state had maintained its support for the Tinubu administration since the 2023 election, adding that the government was grateful for the confidence reposed in it.

“Our gratitude to you, therefore, is profound. We have learned from you the art of building alliances. We have learned that trust sustains them. Without trust, even the firmest handshake becomes an empty ceremony,” he said.

Shettima urged the electorate to support the president for another term, arguing that the administration had laid the foundations for further development and should be allowed to continue its work.

“We have travelled too far to abandon the journey. We have worked too hard to surrender the gains. We have laid the foundations, and we must now raise the structure,” he said.