The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Tuesday declared that it’s not backing any presidential candidate for the 2027 normal election, urging voters within the South-South to decide on leaders primarily based on their capability to advance the pursuits of the Niger Delta.
The discussion board mentioned it remained non-partisan and was not aligned with any political get together or presidential candidate, together with President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, and ex-Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah, said this whereas addressing journalists after a gathering of the organisation attended by former governors, former ministers, conventional rulers and different stakeholders from the six South-South states.
Igali urged the individuals of the area to scrutinise candidates and vote in line with their conscience, stressing that their selections ought to replicate the event wants of the Niger Delta and the nation.
He mentioned, “PANDEF is non-partisan and never supporting any candidate. It just isn’t a political get together or assist group.
We, due to this fact, name on the individuals of the South-South to train their civic tasks peacefully and vote in line with their conscience, selecting candidates in any respect ranges whose programmes, commitments, and demonstrated capability align with the aspirations of the Niger Delta.
“I repeat, we name on the individuals of South-South to train their civic duty peacefully and vote in line with their conscience.
“We call on our people to ‘shine your eyes’ and vote according to their conscience. They should look at candidates who have the capacity to help us as a region and move this country forward.”
The PANDEF chairman additionally urged Niger Delta indigenes holding public workplaces, significantly on the Federal Government stage, to exhibit higher dedication to the organisation’s actions.
“PANDEF calls on sons and daughters of the Niger Delta who are holding public office, especially at the level of the Federal Government, to show more commitment and interest in the activities of the organisation that are focused on uniting our people and advancing the cause of the Niger Delta.”
Similarly, Attah, who can be the Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees, mentioned the organisation had not endorsed any candidate for the presidential election.
“We should not aligning ourselves with any candidate. PANDEF has remained completely impartial and non-partisan.
“As far as we are concerned, we have stated very clearly that the people of the South-South should shine their eyes and vote for whomever they believe would do their best for the Niger Delta region and the country,” he added.
The clarification comes as political events and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 normal election, with the South-South remaining an vital political bloc due to its oil and gasoline sources and its function in nationwide income technology.
Last month, the Independent National Electoral Commission cleared 18 presidential candidates and their working mates for the January 2027 presidential election.
Those listed embrace Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Tinubu of the APC, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
Beyond the election, PANDEF renewed its demand for a considerable improve within the derivation allocation to oil-producing states, calling on the Federal Government to lift the present minimal of 13 per cent to 50 per cent.
Igali mentioned the proposed improve would assist deal with environmental air pollution, infrastructure deficits and different improvement challenges confronting communities within the oil-producing area.
He additionally referred to as for the abolition of the onshore-offshore dichotomy in income allocation, arguing that oil-producing communities ought to obtain a fairer share of the sources extracted from their setting.
The demand displays longstanding issues within the Niger Delta over the environmental and financial prices of oil exploration, together with air pollution, broken livelihoods and insufficient infrastructure, regardless of the area’s contribution to nationwide income.
The discussion board brings collectively political leaders, conventional rulers and different stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states to advertise the pursuits of the Niger Delta.
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