By Sunday Apah
The Forum of Presidents-General of the 24 Urhobo Kingdoms has unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while declaring full support for every other APC candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The landmark endorsement was announced on Wednesday when a high-powered government delegation, led by the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo (representing the Governor), the Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Solomon Igrakpata, and the State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, visited the Forum’s secretariat in Effurun, Delta State.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Forum, Chief Monday Arawore, declared that the Presidents-General remain firmly committed to partnering with the government in power to safeguard the interests of their communities and ensure that Urhobo people fully benefit from government programmes and interventions.
“As Presidents-General, our position is clear. We work with the government in power because our primary responsibility is to protect the interests of our communities and ensure that our people benefit from government programmes and interventions,” Arawore stated.
He explained that the Forum fully understands and supports Governor Oborevwori’s decision to align Delta State with the political leadership at the centre, describing the move as a strategic step to secure stronger federal partnership, attract greater opportunities, and advance the development of the state.
“We understand the Governor’s decision to align Delta State with the political leadership at the centre. The objective, as explained by the Governor, is to secure stronger federal partnership, attract greater opportunities and advance the development interests of Delta State,” he added.
Arawore further noted that the Forum’s position is consistent with that of the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, which has already called for unity, peace, and continued support for the Governor’s administration.
“We therefore pledge our support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the MORE Agenda of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, while urging both governments to continue to put the welfare and development of our people first,” he said.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo described the endorsement as a strong affirmation of the earlier position taken by Urhobo traditional rulers.
“What the Presidents-General have done today is to affirm what the traditional institutions, our Royal Fathers, have said,” Akpowowo stated.
He recalled past political successions in Delta State and argued that the current stance respects the long-standing tradition of honouring the decisions of traditional institutions.
“Our traditional rulers, in their wisdom, decided to affirm and endorse Governor Sheriff for a second term and declare that nobody from Delta Central worthy of being called an Urhobo son should contest against him. You cannot challenge your father. The traditional rulers are our fathers; they have spoken. As a good son, you follow the steps of your father.”
The Deputy Speaker emphasised that the endorsement extends beyond Governor Oborevwori to President Tinubu and all APC candidates in the state, linking the Governor’s support for the President to the expectation of deeper federal collaboration and accelerated development.
Also speaking, Chief Sunday Onoriode confirmed that the Presidents-General’s endorsement covers every APC candidate contesting elective positions in Urhobo land in the 2027 elections.
“Our candidates contesting for various seats in the next general election in Urhobo land have been endorsed by the Presidents-General of Urhobo land. It is a clear manifestation of the feeling of the Urhobo people,” Onoriode said.
“Our kings have spoken, the Presidents-General have followed suit, and in our culture our kings are gods in the land. Once they speak, it is the word of the gods.”
In a similar vein, the Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Solomon Igrakpata, described the development as highly significant.
“I am so happy and overwhelmed because the Presidents-General have come out to express the good works of Mr. President, his policies, and how those policies are positively affecting Nigeria, as well as the good works of the Governor of Delta State, especially through his MORE Agenda,” Igrakpata said.
He noted that the Presidents-General’s position further reinforces the earlier endorsement of Governor Oborevwori by the traditional rulers of Urhobo land.
