BENIN CITY, Nigeria — Key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South geopolitical zone have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, while also backing three incumbent governors from the region for re-election.
The endorsement followed a strategic meeting held in Benin, the Edo State capital, and was formalised in a communique signed by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and one of the zone’s leading political figures.
The meeting brought together a high-profile delegation of APC leaders and state officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North; APC acting national chairman Ali Dalori; APC national vice-chairman Victor Giadom; and governors of the region.
In the communique, the stakeholders expressed strong support for President Tinubu’s administration, citing his commitment to regional development and ongoing infrastructure projects.
“We hereby unanimously ADOPT Mr. President, HE, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as our SOLE CANDIDATE FOR THE 2027 Presidential Election and fervently appeal to the electorate in the South-South Region and Nigeria to support him,” the communique read.
The stakeholders also endorsed the APC governors in the region as their sole gubernatorial candidates for the 2027 elections.
These include:
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Bassey Otu – Cross River State
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Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom State
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Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta State
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Monday Okpebholo – Edo State
Of the four, only Governor Okpebholo will not be seeking re-election in 2027, having assumed office following the 2024 off-cycle election.
“We hereby unanimously ADOPT our APC Governors from the South-South Region as our SOLE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES in their respective states in the 2027 gubernatorial elections and appeal to the electorate to vote massively for them in recognition of their outstanding performance and commitment to good governance,” the statement added.
The communique also called on the two non-APC governors in the South-South — Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and Douye Diri of Bayelsa — to defect to the ruling party and align with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“We call on the remaining two non-APC Governors of the region, namely Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States and their supporters to also join the progressive family in the APC,” the stakeholders urged.
The meeting also commended Tinubu for signing the South-South Development Commission Act into law, a move seen as a significant step towards addressing developmental challenges in the region.
“We welcome the governors, stakeholders and supporters of Delta and Akwa Ibom States for their patriotic and courageous decisions of embracing the Renewed Hope Agenda and joining the All Progressives Congress,” the communique added.
