The Rivers State Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Dr Kingsley Ogu, has declared that Rivers State will play a decisive role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, expressing confidence that the state will deliver substantial votes for the President.
Ogu said the movement’s support for Tinubu was informed by the state’s strategic electoral importance and the economic benefits expected from the Federal Government’s investments and policies in the oil and gas sector, which he described as the backbone of Rivers State’s economy.
He spoke during the commissioning and inauguration of the Rivers State Secretariat of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, attended by the organisation’s National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, and other leaders and members, on Monday.
Ogu described Rivers as a critical political constituency, citing its 23 local government areas, population and more than three million registered voters as factors that could significantly influence the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
A strong believer in statistics, he argued that the state’s voting strength was substantial enough to make a significant difference in the electoral fortunes of presidential candidates.
Explaining the rationale behind the movement’s support for Tinubu, Ogu said its decision was based on economic considerations rather than political sentiments, particularly the administration’s interventions in the petroleum industry.
He recalled that Nigeria’s crude oil production had fallen below one million barrels per day before Tinubu assumed office, attributing subsequent improvements to the administration’s policies and efforts to attract investments into the sector.
He specifically highlighted three presidential executive orders aimed at removing bottlenecks in contract awards, encouraging timely execution of projects and strengthening the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Ogu also identified the Host Community Development provisions of the PIA as an important opportunity for oil-producing communities to access resources for infrastructure and social development.
He further commended the Federal Government’s renewed engagement with Ogoni communities towards restoring oil exploration and production activities in the area after more than three decades of suspension.
According to him, the successful restoration of petroleum operations in Ogoniland, subject to environmental safeguards and community acceptance, could increase Rivers State’s production capacity, create employment and expand economic opportunities.
He also cited the establishment of a federal university in Ogoni, efforts to improve road access to Bonny Island and the proposed gas development project at OML 58 as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of Rivers State.
The state coordinator maintained that investments in oil and gas would have multiplier effects on businesses, employment, government revenue and household welfare, insisting that Rivers people had compelling economic reasons to support the President’s second-term ambition.
On the organisational strength of the movement, Ogu disclosed that the Rivers chapter had established 12 executives in each polling unit, a structure he said would translate into more than 70,000 grassroots mobilisers across the state.
He explained that the arrangement was designed to ensure effective community engagement and direct mobilisation of voters ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ogu said the state secretariat was established through the personal contributions and sacrifices of members of the leadership and their supporters, rather than abundant financial resources.
Quoting the philosophy of Anne Frank that “no one ever gets poor by giving”, he said the facility demonstrated the commitment of members to building a functional organisation capable of coordinating its activities across the state.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, described the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, founded by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as a formidable grassroots political platform with nationwide reach.
Asuku, who conveyed greetings from the movement’s Board of Trustees and National Secretariat in Abuja, commended the Rivers leadership for its commitment and the enthusiasm displayed by members.
He particularly acknowledged the participation of women, stressing that their involvement would be crucial to the success of any political campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
The national coordinator declared that the movement was targeting an overwhelming victory for Tinubu, insisting that its mobilisation efforts would extend to communities, villages, churches, mosques and other grassroots platforms across the country.
“We want to beat the opposition such that they will be forced to join the winning team. We are talking of an overwhelming victory this time around,” he said.
Asuku justified the movement’s support for Tinubu by highlighting what he described as the administration’s bold economic and governance reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, local government autonomy and the pursuit of state policing.
He argued that although the removal of fuel subsidy had brought economic difficulties, the policy had increased allocations to state governments and strengthened their capacity to meet obligations such as salaries and pensions.
He also identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention in the education sector, saying it had expanded opportunities for students to access higher education and reduced the financial pressures contributing to school dropout.
Recalling his personal experience as a student affected by prolonged ASUU strikes, Asuku said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated concern for the educational aspirations of Nigerian students.
He described local government autonomy as another important reform, arguing that it would bring governance closer to ordinary Nigerians by making resources available to the tier of government most accessible to the people.
According to him, Tinubu’s willingness to embark on difficult reforms during his first term, despite the possible political consequences, demonstrated his commitment to long-term national development.
Asuku also praised the President’s record as former governor of Lagos State, describing him as the architect of modern Lagos and arguing that the state’s development trajectory reflected the importance of continuity in governance policies.
He urged Nigerians to assess presidential aspirants based on their records in previous public offices rather than campaign promises, maintaining that Tinubu remained the best choice for the country.
The national coordinator expressed confidence that the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by members of the Rivers chapter would translate into strong grassroots support for the President.
He charged members to intensify their mobilisation efforts through door-to-door campaigns, community engagements and sustained political sensitisation.
“With your support, with our support, with your gallantry, with your preaching, with your evangelism everywhere, from door to door, city to city, town to town, trenches to trenches, farm to farm, churches to churches, mosque to mosque, come 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return elected as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Asuku declared.
The event ended with renewed commitment by the Rivers State chapter to expand its grassroots structure and mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election under the movement’s slogan, “Every Door Matters”.
