Why Niger Delta will back only Tinubu in 2027 presidential poll– Amnesty programme boss

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, says the Niger Delta will throw its full support behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting the president has earned the people’s confidence.

Otuaro made the declaration during the closing ceremony of the “Stream 1” Batch 3, three-day Strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training, organised by the PAP in partnership with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, on Friday.

He maintained that President Tinubu had shown genuine commitment to the Niger Delta, working to maintain peace in the region while driving development and socio-economic progress under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, over the weekend, Otuaro urged the region to rally solidly behind the president’s second-term bid, warning residents to be wary of “political manipulators” as the 2027 race approaches.

The PAP boss noted that the president’s support for the programme had been unprecedented, including his approval for an increased budget to boost opportunities in formal education, vocational training, and post-training empowerment for ex-agitators and other beneficiaries.

He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would “do much more” for the Niger Delta, citing his “strong commitment and political will” over the past two years.

“As Niger Delta people, we will support only His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in 2027. Let us not allow anybody to deceive us that come 2027, there is a new and better agenda. That is not true and we are wise enough to know.

“We are sure that President Tinubu has the best agenda for the country and indeed the Niger Delta, and he is the only candidate that we will all support.

“The President has proved that he has genuine intentions to sustain the peace, security, infrastructure and human capital development, and the socio-economic advancement in our region. He means well for us, and this is incontrovertible.

“We shall therefore fully support him. Supporting him is the right thing to do. Anywhere the President goes, we go. And that will be our mandate because the Niger Delta is our agenda.

“Though the elections are several months away, we must be aware of political manipulators who are out with their agenda of mischief.

“We must watch out as Niger Delta people. Let’s not allow anybody to use anyone against us and the agenda of the President. We are so focused that we cannot be distracted. We know what is working for us, and what is good for our region and we will work to sustain the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”

Otuaro also called on the people of the Niger Delta to reject divisiveness, embrace unity, and work together to build a stronger foundation for the region’s future.