JUST IN: South-South leaders endorse Tinubu, three Govs for 2027

Ahead of the 2027 general election, South-South leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have adopted President Bola Tinubu and three Governors as their candidates for the poll, saying the choice was due to their performance after assuming office.

The adopted state governors by the leaders were Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Bassey Otu from Cross River.

They stated this in a communique issued on Saturday after the South-South stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin City, Edo state.

Reading the content of the communique, Cross Rivers state’s former governor, Ben Ayade, stated that the decision of the leaders was reached after reviewing the efforts made by Tinubu and the three governors.

He also commended the President for the creation of the South-South Development Commission and the ongoing construction of the Lagos.

The former governor also commended the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for making the region proud by supporting President Tínubu and his infrastructural transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.

He appealed to the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States to join the APC before the 2027 gubernatorial elections in their states.

The Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, moved the motion for the adoption of the communique and was seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

In his speech, the acting national chairman of the APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, commended the leadership of the party in the region for organising the meeting.

Dalori, who formally welcomed the governors of Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states to the party, however, added that the President Tinubu-led government has no intention to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Also speaking, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, boasted that the entire region would soon come under the control of the APC.

He also hinted that the Governors Siminialayi Fubara and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa and Rivers States might soon join the party.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the host Governor, Monday Okpebholo, noted that the South-South region is gradually getting its footing, in terms of good governance, with the support of President Tínubu.