“I have reached a stage in my political career where I believe I should step aside and allow younger politicians to take over. I have already informed my supporters in Gombe that I will not contest the 2027 election following what happened,” Goje said.

He rejected suggestions that Governor Inuwa Yahaya had politically retired him.

“It was not Inuwa Yahaya who retired me from politics. It was Allah who decided that I would not continue with this matter,” Goje said.

He added that he could still return to the Senate if he decided to contest under another political party and secured its ticket.

Goje also said he did not consider his failure to secure the APC ticket as a betrayal.

“As a Muslim, I know that everything comes from Allah. It is not about betrayal. In politics, I can only show gratitude,” he said.

The former governor disclosed that he had decided as far back as 2019 not to seek another term in the Senate but was persuaded by his supporters and constituents to contest again.

“This time too, the decision was made quickly. I did not intend to contest, but I was persuaded. Since Allah has decided that I will not contest, there is no cause for concern,” he said.

According to him, his long experience in politics had also changed the nature of his political contests.

He said, “The current President has done a lot for Nigerians. He met an economy in shambles. When he came in, 27 states could not pay salaries and pensions, but today, the story has changed because of his reengineering and thinking out of the box. In 2027, Nigerians will separate the chaff from the grains and re-elect President Tinubu for a second term in office.

“We have a President who thinks outside the box, bringing about innovation. We will have something to tell Nigerians about the unprecedented achievements of Mr President at the campaign grounds. Someone who is challenging him cannot even tell us what he did when he was governor.

“I can tell you what I did when I was the governor of my state. We will tell them a lot. Those in the opposition know too well the achievements of this government in the area of the economy, agriculture, security, education and fiscal policy, but because they are in the opposition, they won’t say it.”

Akpabio also defended the performance of the 10th National Assembly, saying the Senate had passed legislation aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.

“The 10th Senate under my leadership has made giant strides, and we are very proud of it. We will continue to collaborate with the Executive arm of government to achieve more for Nigerians.

“Even in this period of our annual vacation, you are here in Uyo doing your job. We don’t need to listen to social media because it is garbage in, garbage out,” he noted.

The Senate President urged lawmakers who would not return to the 11th Senate to remain committed to the APC and Tinubu’s administration.

Akpabio assured them that their loyalty to the party and the President would be recognised, while urging them to continue contributing to the success of the administration.

Earlier, Mohammed said the committee’s visit was part of its constitutional responsibilities and an opportunity to pay homage to the Senate President.

“We are here today for a very important constitutional responsibility and to pay homage to our leader. The Senate President of the Republic of Nigeria. Under your leadership, we have enacted laws that are benefiting the Nigerian masses.

“Nigerian parents are happy because of TETFund and NELFund. We are in Akwa Ibom State on sensitisation and oversight of all of the infrastructure executed by TETFund.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to sincerely appreciate your support. This law is fundamental to the success story of the development of Nigeria, because education is key to success.”, he noted.

The statement reads, “Political contest worldwide has always been between the ruling party and the opposition parties. Presidential debates worldwide have also been organised between the ruling party and the opposition.

“The situation in Nigeria today in which presidential debates are organised among the opposition parties only is therefore untenable. This has become a strategy that the failed, incompetent, and corrupt APC government under Tinubu has been using to further instigate the opposition to attack each other while shielding itself from scrutiny by the Nigerian people.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the coalition of opposition parties and leaders, is left with no other choice than to make his appearance in any presidential debates conditional on the participation of President Bola Tinubu and the APC. There is no hiding place for APC in 2027.

“HE Atiku Abubakar is willing to engage the Nigerian people through interviews, townhall meetings, press conferences, and any other forum of interaction with the people but will not participate in any arrangement that will pit the opposition against itself and give undue advantage to APC.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, therefore, challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate which will provide an opportunity for both the ruling party and the opposition parties to address Nigerians on their policies and ways to achieve those policies so that Nigerians can make an informed choice for the 2027 elections.”