Akpabio says Flamingos' win means Tinubu will get a second term

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said Nigeria's recent win at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco shows that President Bola Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027.

Akpabio said the Flamingos' success, just before the 2027 general elections, means that Nigerians will vote strongly for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and bring Tinubu back for another term.

He shared this on Wednesday while welcoming the Flamingos at the Senate wing of the National Assembly in Abuja.

“Perhaps, the timing of your victory, just as we prepare for the 2027 election, shows that you have brought this World Cup to us. This means we will win the next election. It is the same way Nigerians are going to choose us in January 2027,” he said.

Akpabio added that Tinubu receiving the trophy from the team is a sign that he will also win the 2027 presidential election.

“And for the president to be the one receiving this World Cup from you, it shows he’s also going to receive a bigger trophy of his re-election as president of Nigeria. So, keep up the good work and make us proud. The spirit of change is already influencing every part of our economy,” he said.

The 2027 presidential election is set for 16 January 2027, as per the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC has approved 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the election, after political parties held their primaries and INEC published its final list of candidates on 12 September.

The candidates include Tinubu of the APC; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (ADC); former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Other candidates are Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC); and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Flamingos’ historic win

Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 in Saturday's final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, making them the first African country to win this competition.

Awawu Bashiru scored the first goal in the 39th minute, and Oluebube Umejiaku added another shortly after the break. Japan's Fuki Ito reduced the gap in the 80th minute, but the Flamingos held firm to secure the title.

The Flamingos lost their first group-stage match 2-1 to Poland but bounced back, winning six straight matches to lift the trophy. They became the first team in the competition's history to lose their opening match and still win it all.

They beat Puerto Rico 2-0 and defending champions Korea DPR 3-1 in the group stage, then overcame Mexico 2-1 in the round of 16. They later edged past Venezuela in the quarter-finals and defeated Brazil 3-1 in the semi-finals to reach their first final.

This win also makes Nigeria the first African country to claim both the men’s and women’s FIFA U-17 World Cup titles.

On Tuesday, the Senate announced a donation of N100 million to the team to celebrate their historic win and support the players.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Akpabio presented the cash donation to the team members. He encouraged the players to stay united and urged the technical crew, including the coaches, to keep training and prepare the players for the senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons.