Senator Austin Akobundu, Director-General and Campaign Manager of the ADC/Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council and ADC candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, has expressed confidence that he, the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,
and other candidates of the ADC, will win their elections in January 2027 “by God’s grace and the will of the people.”
Akobundu made the declaration on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Ikwuano and Umuahia, Abia State, while inaugurating the Atiku/Akobundu Vanguard, a grassroots support group in Nigeria’s Southeast. The events drew massive crowds and thunderous applause from the crowd who defied the nightfall to show solidarity with Senator Akobundu’s campaign team.
Addressing party members, volunteers, and supporters, the Abia Central Senator said Atiku’s plans for “restoring targeted subsidies and making life affordable again” have resonated deeply with Nigerians at home and abroad. He described the former Vice President’s blueprint as “the most workable pathway to restoring Nigeria to peace and prosperity.”
“Tinubu has made life expensive for Nigerians. Atiku will make life affordable again for the people,” Akobundu declared. He reiterated Atiku’s commitment to reviving the Eastern maritime port corridor to full capacity, a move he said would enhance the Southeast’s import/export advantage and boost the national economy.
Akobundu also described Atiku as a detribalized Nigerian who believes in national unity, competence, and equal opportunity, citing his own appointment as DG of the campaign council as proof. “Ndigbo will enjoy greater economic benefits under Atiku’s presidency, and Nigerians will enjoy a better life,” he said. He urged the region “to rise above sentiments and rally behind Atiku as a candidate whose presidency will create a practical pathway for a President of Igbo extraction after his tenure.”
At both inaugurations, Akobundu thanked volunteers, party faithful, and legacy ADC members for their steadfastness. He noted that the large turnout affirmed wide acceptance of the party, its presidential candidate, and other ADC flag bearers.
He then highlighted his record in the Senate as it concerns the two LGAs of Ikwuano and Umuahia North over the past three years, despite being sworn in six months late:
Legislative Interventions:
1. Sponsored a Bill for the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Umuahia North LGA.
2. Sponsored a Bill for the establishment of the Federal College of Health Technology, Ikwuano LGA.
3. Sponsored a motion for the appropriation of sufficient funds in the 2025 budget for the speedy completion of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Federal Road rehabilitation project.
On December 11, 2024, Akobundu moved a motion lamenting delays on the strategic Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road. The Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately release funds for completion during the dry season;
ii. Mandate the Committee on Works to investigate the causes of delay and report back within two weeks; and
iii. Appropriate funds for the project in the 2025 Budget.
Two months later, N14.37bn was approved for the road. The Abia State Government has since taken over the reconstruction under a refund arrangement with the Federal Government. Akobundu commended Governor Alex Otti for the initiative and the quality of work, adding: “I do not play politics of division and bitterness. That was why I was present and spoke at the flag-off. That road is for our people, and anyone who contributes to its reconstruction deserves commendation.” He also praised Hon. Sam Onuigbo for his persistent efforts on the project.
On human capital development and empowerment, Akobundu highlighted his scorecard as follows:
4. Scholarship awards for students across the district.
5. Free training for over 400 secondary school students in embedded systems engineering, robotics, and AI.
6. Training for 100 youths in farming and tailoring, with sewing machines, startup items, and cash support.
7. Free training for 360 youths in high-demand digital fields: UI/UX Design, Web Design, Graphics Design, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Forex Trading, Software Development, and Data Science.
8. Free training for 400 youths in cosmetics production and paint making, with cash awards.
9. Two-day capacity-building programme on peace and conflict management for traditional rulers and community institutions.
10. N200,000 grants to 114 tertiary students each from the district.
11. Three-year scholarship for 113 constituents at the National Teachers Institute, worth N21 million which has bee fully paid.
12. One-day public sensitization campaign against social vices, drug abuse, violent crimes, and gender-based violence, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency.
13. Facilitated federal employment for several constituents.
14. Three-phase medical outreach across the senatorial district.
Infrastructure Projects:
15. Installation of solar streetlights in select markets and communities in Umuahia North and Ikwuano LGAs, including: Ahiaeke Market, Afor Umuda Market, New Timber Industrial Market, Ariam Market, Ndoro Market, Nnono Market, Ibere Market, Trademoore Estate, Ubani, Oloko, Ahaba-Oloko-Umugo-Nchara Road, Nchara, Usaka Eleogu, Umusoko Awomukwu, Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base, Ariam, and ongoing projects in Ohobo Okwulaga Afaraukwu and Amuzukwu communities, Ulonna Farm Settlemdnt.
Other ongoing Projects include:
16. Construction and furnishing of skills acquisition centres; construction of Oloko–Amizi Road; construction of Oloko–Ugbuebulle Road; construction of 1.1km Amuzu–Umulagbado–Ugbuebulle Link Road with spur at Uzoiyi Oloko; renovation of one classroom block at Union Primary School, Isiama Afaraukwu.
Contracts Awarded, Awaiting Mobilisation:
17. Solar-powered borehole with reticulation at Ohobo Okwulaga Afaraukwu; renovation and furnishing of Ugba Community Primary School; construction of 10 lock-up stores and market renovations across Abia Central; construction and furnishing of Oloko JAMB CBT Centre; supply and installation of 300 KVA transformers in selected communities; provision/rehabilitation of solar-powered boreholes in selected communities; supply of medical consumables to selected primary healthcare centres; provision of recycling facility in Ariam; renovation and furnishing of Ahia Orie Comprehensive Secondary School, Ibere
Other Awarded Projects:
18. Procurement of ICT equipment for digital entrepreneurs in Abia Central; construction of Ahiaeke–Ntugbu Road; reconstruction of Azuiyi Ntugbu Oloko bridge.
Projects in the 2026 Budget:
19. Construction of health centre in Isiala Oboro; solar-powered borehole in Obunta, Isiala Oboro; construction and equipping of Usaka Eleogu Health Centre; construction of community market in Iberenta; construction of Ekebedi–Amadeus University Road; construction of modern exam hall at Ibere Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikwuano.
(Similar projects in the other four LGAs of the senatorial district have been reported earlier).
Before the inaugurations, Senator Akobundu and his entourage paid courtesy visits to Traditional Rulers in Umuahia North at the palace of the Chairman, Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Nwaigwe Innocent, and their counterparts in Ikwuano at the palace of the Chairman of Ikwuano Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Joseph Anyaegbu Onyekwere, in Oboro. All the royal fathers welcomed him and gave their blessings.
Akobundu thanked them for their prayers and support, reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful, issue-based and dignified campaigns “devoid of calumny and mudslinging.”
In response, the monarchs commended his achievements and his cooperation with Governor Otti for the state’s development. They urged him to maintain closer alignment with the traditional rulers. Similar sentiments were echoed by HRH Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi, the Okwu 1 of Okwulaga.
The Senator later met with Umuahia North Stakeholders at the residence of the group’s chairman, Royal High Chief Igbokwe KC, Traditional Prime Minister of Afugiri. After highlighting his record, the group commended him for executing “visible and verifiable projects” across the district and pledged their support.
Senator Akobundu was accompanied by a delegation including: the DG of his campaign council, Elder Sam Njoku, his deputy, Hon. Suleiman Ukandu, State ADC Acting Chairman, Hon. Obinna Okey, Hon. Emeka Ejiogu, Hon. Stanley Nwabuisi, Hon. Stephen Mpamugo, Pastor Ekeleme Ikeije, Hon. G.C. Iwuoha, Hon. Nwanneakolam George, Mr. Emeka Bahadur, Hon. Dan Onwutuebe, Chief B.S.I. Onuigbo, High Chief Mrs. Comfort Nwosu, Mr. Ike Bishop Okoronkwo, Mr. GodsLight Mbakwe, Hon. Henry Nwoha, Mr. Okezie Chinedu Jalo, Mr. Osondu, Mr. Ikenna Benjamin Balogu, Chief Jude Chijioke Ndukwe among others.
