Supporters of President Bola Tinubu in Bayelsa State have rejected comments attributed to African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice-Presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi about Nigerians who intend to vote for the president in the 2027 election.

Udengs Eradiri, Director of Media of the Bayelsa chapter of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), said supporters of the president remained firmly committed to his re-election.

Eradiri described Amaechi’s reported remarks as insulting and politically irresponsible, arguing that voters should be persuaded through policies, programmes and records rather than personal attacks.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation, made the comments during an ADC town-hall meeting in Benin City, Edo State, where he urged voters to reject Tinubu in 2027. Multiple reports have independently confirmed the remarks.

In his response, Eradiri said the criticism would not discourage those campaigning for Tinubu’s return.

He argued that the president deserved another term to consolidate what he described as reforms already undertaken by his administration.

Eradiri also maintained that four years was too short to achieve the scale of transformation he believes Nigeria requires. He challenged opposition politicians to demonstrate how they would manage the country’s resources and address its economic and security challenges.

Eradiri invokes southern presidency argument

A major part of Eradiri’s response centred on the argument that the South should retain the presidency for another term before power eventually rotates to the North.

He said supporters in the region had decided to remain behind Tinubu and would mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Eradiri accused Amaechi of seeking to interrupt what he described as the South’s expected turn in the presidency. He characterised such an attempt as unfair, while referring to what he considered the political marginalisation of the South during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The argument comes as political groups across Nigeria increasingly organise around competing regional and party-based strategies ahead of the 2027 election.

Eradiri challenges Amaechi over Rivers records

The Bayelsa TSG spokesman also challenged Amaechi to respond to questions previously raised by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike concerning projects and transactions undertaken while Amaechi was governor of Rivers State.

Among the issues mentioned were the Olympia Hotel transaction, the sale of four state-owned power plants, the Rivers State monorail project and expenditure associated with the Karibi Whyte Hospital.

These claims were presented by Eradiri as political questions requiring responses from Amaechi. They should not, however, be treated as established wrongdoing merely because they were raised in a political exchange.

Eradiri also revived the long-running controversy surrounding the Nigeria Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State.

He criticised Amaechi’s position on the institution when he served as transportation minister, arguing that the issue remained significant to voters in the Niger Delta.

The controversy dates back to 2016, when Amaechi questioned the priority given to establishing the university at Okerenkoko while other maritime institutions, particularly the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, required investment. Contemporary reports show that his position triggered strong opposition from Ijaw groups and other Niger Delta stakeholders.

TSG has already begun 2027 mobilisation

Eradiri’s latest statement follows a broader mobilisation campaign by the Bayelsa Tinubu Support Group.

In September, the group announced plans to mobilise voters across political, ethnic and social lines in support of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Eradiri was identified as the group’s Bayelsa Director of Media. (Arise News)

The group has said it intends to take its campaign to communities across Bayelsa and highlight what it considers achievements of the Tinubu administration.

Eradiri therefore framed the latest response not simply as a reaction to Amaechi but as part of an emerging campaign effort ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

Call for issue-based campaigns

Despite the sharp political exchange, Eradiri urged parties and candidates to concentrate on their records, programmes and manifestos.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigeria Police Force to enforce applicable rules against inflammatory campaign rhetoric.

The appeal comes amid growing concern over the tone of political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections. FCT Minister Wike has separately called on INEC to sanction Amaechi over the same remarks, describing them as inflammatory.

Eradiri nevertheless insisted that criticism of Tinubu would not weaken his supporters’ determination to campaign for his return.

He also dismissed the emerging opposition alliance involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Amaechi as unlikely to succeed.

Background: Why Amaechi and the Niger Delta issue remain politically sensitive

The dispute also touches an older disagreement involving Amaechi and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

In January 2016, while serving as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi questioned whether government should proceed with the proposed university when existing maritime institutions, particularly the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, needed investment.

Contemporary reporting recorded his argument that resources should first be directed towards strengthening existing institutions.

The position provoked strong reactions in the Niger Delta. Ijaw organisations argued that the proposed university was important to regional development and demanded that the project proceed.

The controversy became part of the wider political debate about development, representation and perceived federal neglect of the Niger Delta.

Eradiri’s decision to revive the issue in 2026 therefore appears to be aimed at connecting Amaechi’s present presidential campaign with an older political disagreement in the region.