Governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Nigeria’s South-South region have officially endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, signaling early momentum for the 2027 presidential election.
The endorsement came during the APC South-South Stakeholders’ Interactive Session held in Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday. In a statement issued by Fred Itua, media aide to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, regional leaders lauded Tinubu’s leadership and affirmed their commitment to his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Prominent political figures in attendance included Senator Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh; Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, who represented the Progressive Governors’ Forum; former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva; and Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
Also present were Deputy Governor of Edo State Dennis Idahosa, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, SSG Umar Musa Ikhilor, APC National Woman Leader Mary Idele Alile, Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe, and South-South APC leader Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Speakers unanimously passed a vote of confidence in both President Tinubu and Governor Okpebholo, commending their leadership and policy direction. They praised ongoing reforms, including the federal student loan initiative and the tax exemption policy for low-income earners, as tangible impacts of Tinubu’s administration.
Governor Okpebholo, addressing the gathering, described the event as “historic,” noting the “unprecedented unity” among South-South APC leaders. He praised President Tinubu as a “capacity working president” who has provided critical support for development projects across the country.
Highlighting infrastructure efforts in Edo State, Okpebholo declared, “This is the first time we are seeing unity among the governors coming together in a single room to discuss the progress of this country.”
He specifically referenced the ongoing construction of roads across eight communities in Uhunmwonde, including projects in areas previously neglected during the tenure of former Governor Godwin Obaseki. “If the president is not behind us, such development cannot happen,” he said.
Reaffirming his political loyalty, Okpebholo vowed to deliver 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, confidently stating, “2027 is settled in Edo State as a way to pay him back for his support.”
He also recalled the political hurdles Tinubu faced prior to his 2023 election victory, saying, “They seized the economy. They seized petrol. They seized everything to frustrate him, yet he won.”
The endorsement marks one of the earliest public declarations of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid, and underscores the APC’s push to consolidate its political base in the South-South—an area long seen as a stronghold of the opposition.
Observers say the gathering is a strategic move to build early consensus and rally regional support ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 general election.
