Some Niger Delta leaders and associates of former President Goodluck Jonathan have appealed to him not to contest the 2027 presidential election, urging instead that he lend his support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The call was led by former militant leader and prominent Niger Delta figure, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), who reportedly met with Dr. Jonathan at his Otuoke residence in Bayelsa State last week.
According to sources, the meeting—Tompolo’s second major public appearance in over a decade was part of ongoing consultations aimed at convincing the former president to “jettison his bid.”
Tompolo was accompanied by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Chief Kestin Pondi, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa election, Joshua Maciver.
During the visit, Tompolo reportedly told Dr. Jonathan that the “public mood does not support his aspiration” and that “the psyche of the citizens of the Niger Delta and indeed of the majority of Nigerians favoured the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”
He emphasised that the former president might not enjoy “home support” should he choose to run under any political platform, urging him to “support President Tinubu in the spirit of continuity.”
One source familiar with the meeting disclosed: “Tompolo came to see His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, in his village, Otuoke, on Friday, October 16 in what was a happy reunion since they have not met in over one decade. Contrary to the reports in the conventional and social media that they discussed issues bordering on peace and security in the Niger Delta, far from that, the meeting was political.
Tompolo came and unequivocally appealed to him to shelve his rumoured presidential bid in 2027. Although Tompolo acknowledged that the ambition is coming into the public space as mere rumours, but he told Mr. President that he should shelve the idea if it’s true.”
The source continued: “Tompolo advised our leader not to be persuaded and not to give in to those political calculations that he could unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections. He stated categorically that the psyche of the citizens of the Niger Delta and indeed of the majority of Nigerians favoured the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2927.”
He reportedly told the former president that his chances were weakened by “the recent public statement made by his wife, Patience, endorsing President Tinubu for re-election and the recent resignation of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, from PDP and his planned defection to APC.”
The source added:“Tompolo told his host that nobody can defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a free and fair electoral contest in view of his superlative performance in less than 3 years in office. He said most reasonable and right-thinking Nigerians want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue in office beyond 2027 to enable him to continue in the saddle till 2031.”
He further said Tompolo “enjoined President Jonathan to join the vanguard for the re-election of Tinubu in 2027,” warning that “a contrary action will surely not going to be in his interest and in the overall interest of his people of the Niger Delta.”
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Tompolo reportedly told Jonathan he “does not have to defect to APC,” saying he could “remain a statesman to work and deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term of office.”
Another source said Dr. Jonathan listened “with rapt attention” and promised to consider the advice, noting that he “acknowledged wisdom in his submissions.”
“President Goodluck Jonathan appreciated Tompolo for his visit and acknowledged his wise counsel on the political permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Jonathan promised to review his counsel and make public his decisions in the future,” the source said.
While Tompolo did not speak to journalists after the meeting, Jonathan told reporters that their discussion centered on regional peace efforts.
“Since I left office, we have not seen each other. Tompolo is one young man, who has played a key role in the unity of our people.
There are issues people have been complaining about, so I decided to ask him so that we can have conversations to ensure the Niger Delta remains peaceful. He (Tompolo) has contributed significantly to the peace and the protection of oil installations,” the former president said.
