The Nigeria Democratic Congress has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s fresh approval of the Ibom Deep Sea Port, alleging that the Federal Government is using the long-delayed project to gain political support in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2027 elections.

The opposition party argued that the project was not new, claiming that the Federal Executive Council under former President Muhammadu Buhari had already approved the first phase of the $4.6bn port project in December 2020.

Tinubu announced the latest approval on Friday during a reception and political rally held in his honour at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The President was in Akwa Ibom to inaugurate projects completed by the administration of Governor Umo Eno, during which the governor appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the stalled seaport project.

Reacting to the announcement in a statement on Sunday, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, questioned why the project was being presented as a fresh Federal Government approval despite the 2020 decision.

Director recalled that the Buhari administration, at its Federal Executive Council meeting on December 16, 2020, approved the implementation of the first phase of the project and selected Bollore/Power China as the preferred bidder.

He said the approval was expected to lead to the commencement of construction of the multi-billion-dollar port.

The opposition party also recalled that Tinubu, during his presidential campaign as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Uyo on January 30, 2023, had promised to develop the seaport.

Director accused the Tinubu administration and the APC of repeatedly reviving the project for political purposes without delivering it.

“What a hocus-pocus, what hogwash, and what barefaced lies and shenanigans of a rudderless party! How many times will the APC approve the Ibom Deep Sea Port?” he said.

He described the latest announcement as another attempt to win the support of Akwa Ibom voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing doubts over whether the project would eventually be completed.

The NDC spokesman said the people of the state had continued to wait for the port despite previous commitments by successive administrations.

He also linked the development to other campaign promises by the Tinubu administration, particularly in the power sector, accusing the Federal Government of making promises without delivering on them.

“As Nigerians are still waiting for the APC and President Tinubu to give us uninterrupted electricity supply, so Akwa Ibomites are waiting endlessly for the promised deep sea port that has become a campaign tool of deceit,” the statement said.