Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, Victor Giadom, has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 presidential election, but warned that he will not enjoy the support of political leaders in the South-South.
Naija News reports that Giadom, who spoke in his hometown, Bere, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, during an interaction with Punch on the conduct of the just-concluded local government elections, stressed that leaders of the region have already taken a firm position in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He stated, “It is optional and up to anybody to decide what he wants to do and what he doesn’t want to. Former President Jonathan is free to join the presidential race, but for us as the political leaders of this place, we have taken our position and our decision is to support President Tinubu in 2027.”
The APC chieftain explained that the decision was based on the visible developmental strides of the Tinubu administration in the region, particularly in critical infrastructure projects that past governments had long abandoned.
Giadom further stated, “We South-South have concrete reasons for doing that. Look at the East-West Road, especially the Eleme section, which we have been crying for decades; now, quality construction work has gone far. The Bodo-Bonny Road is almost 90 per cent completed. You can drive from Mogo Junction (in Ogoni) to Bonny in less than 22 minutes when the final work is completed. Look at what HYPREP is doing in Ogoniland.”
He added that the progress recorded under Tinubu represents a “huge difference” in governance, stressing that the region must “applaud and support him.”
‘South-South Is Fertile Ground For APC’ – Giadom
Giadom expressed confidence that the APC now enjoys massive grassroots support in the South-South, insisting that the party had consolidated its strength across the states.
He said, “I know this is a very fertile ground for the All Progressives Congress, very fertile for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we know that delivering President Tinubu in the South-South has already been accomplished.”
The APC deputy chairman also dismissed suggestions that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition posed any challenge to Tinubu’s re-election chances in 2027.
“There is nothing whatsoever to show that the emergence of the ADC coalition poses any threat to the ruling APC either in the South-South or the country at large. In fact, the party does not exist in this geo-political zone,” Giadom insisted.
According to him, the fact that almost all South-South governors now belong to the APC demonstrates the party’s dominance in the region. He expressed optimism that Bayelsa State may soon join the fold.
The former Commissioner for Works and former Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area of the state said with the impact President Bola Tinubu is making in the Niger Delta region and the South-South in general, the election in 2027 will be a walk over for the APC in the area.
He said, “The people of Gokana local government have spoken and you can see the massive turn-out of voters. You can’t find ADC in Gokana or the South-South. I don’t know where they exist because they don’t exist in the South-South.
“How do you think they will exist here when you have almost all the Governors of the South-South tilting towards the All Progressive Congress?
“I mean there’s no reason for anybody to speculate if they can ever be a threat. This a totally 100 of progressive zone, especially when they have been the total drift by even the PDP government to the APC. You can see that what is left is Bayelsa and Bayelsa will also join.”
On the performance of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Giadom said he gave the commission a thumbs-up, saying, “You can see how the election went. Nobody complained of smashing of boxes and all that, this is a United Front which you have in Rivers State, it is a United Front for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The Chairman of Gokana LGA, Hon. Confidence Deko, who won the elections under the platform of the APC, expressed happiness with the turnout in Barako, his community, during the election and lauded RSIEC for doing a great job.
Last Saturday, Deko, who voted at Ward 11 Unit 17 in the Barako community, said, “It was a peaceful election we had around here. What you see here is massive, and the people embrace the election.”
He described his victory as a reflection of his performance when he served as LG Chairman in his previous tenure, saying, “The people are happy with us and we don’t expect less than the support they have demonstrated today. They are also saying a big Thank you to President Bola Tinubu for his Love for the Ogoni People.”
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