The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 general elections. The decision was made on Tuesday during the party’s 12th Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Yenagoa. The meeting was attended by top members of the National Working Committee, led by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, who represented the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The motion for Tinubu’s endorsement was raised by Ambassador Philip Ikrusi and seconded by former House of Representatives member, Preye Oseke. In his remarks, Ikrusi praised Tinubu’s leadership since taking office in 2023, highlighting what he described as bold reforms, renewed hope for citizens, and steps toward national unity. He also commended the President for appointing Bayelsa indigenes into significant positions at the federal level.
During the meeting, the Bayelsa APC leadership pledged to mobilize grassroots structures across all wards and local government areas to deliver what it called a “resounding victory” for Tinubu in 2027. Leaders emphasized the importance of building a united front to challenge the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
However, the absence of two prominent figures drew significant attention. The Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the APC’s 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, were notably missing from the gathering. Their absence has fueled speculation about persistent divisions within the state chapter of the party.
Former governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, described the absence of the duo as unfortunate. He noted that with proper support from the party’s national leadership, the APC could emerge stronger than the PDP in Bayelsa. According to him, such backing would make victory in 2027 “a done deal.”
The issue of disunity in the state APC is not new. Last year, Sylva’s faction clashed with Lokpobiri and Lyon, resulting in the suspension of the two leaders, along with former Speaker Werinipre Seibarugu and their supporters. Although the suspensions were later lifted, doubts remain about whether the internal rift has been fully resolved.
A further complication was introduced when party chieftain Alex Blankson threatened legal action, insisting that a court ruling had already declared the current Bayelsa APC leadership illegal. This legal dispute has added another layer of uncertainty to the party’s internal cohesion.
Interestingly, insiders revealed that Tuesday’s meeting had originally been scheduled by Lokpobiri himself, making his absence even more surprising. Attempts to reach his spokesperson, Ms. Nneamaka Okafor, as well as David Lyon, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Despite these setbacks, several party leaders stressed the need for reconciliation. The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, urged members to work together to defeat the PDP in the state. He argued that supporting Tinubu was not only a political obligation but also an act of gratitude, given the President’s economic reforms and increased crude oil earnings that, he said, have benefited the Niger Delta.
Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, confirmed that reconciliation efforts were already underway. He suggested that bridging divides within the Bayelsa APC was essential for building a credible opposition capable of challenging the PDP’s hold on the state.
State APC Chairman, Dr. Dennis Otiotio, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as significant projects and key appointments in Bayelsa. He also acknowledged contributions from party leaders, thanking Ogbuku for funding the stakeholders’ meeting and Timipre Sylva for donating the party’s state secretariat.
The Yenagoa gathering was attended by influential APC figures, including National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, National Vice Chairman (South-South) Victor Giadom, former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi, Executive Director of the South-South Development Commission Preye Aganaba, and Prince Amgbare.
While the endorsement of President Tinubu reflects broad support from a section of the Bayelsa APC, the absence of Lokpobiri and Lyon underscores ongoing divisions. Whether reconciliation efforts will succeed in uniting the party ahead of 2027 remains uncertain, but leaders at the meeting expressed optimism that the APC could overcome internal challenges and strengthen its presence in Bayelsa politics.
