The Forum of Presidents-General (PGs) of the 24 Urhobo Kingdoms has declared its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was made public on Wednesday during a visit to the Forum’s secretariat in Effurun, Delta State, by a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, who represented Governor Oborevwori.
The delegation also included the Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Solomon Igrakpata, and the State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode.
Speaking during the meeting, Chairman of the Forum, Chief Monday Arawore, said the Presidents-General were committed to working with governments in power to protect the interests of their communities and ensure that Urhobo people benefited from government programmes and interventions.
“As Presidents-General, our position is clear. We work with the government in power because our primary responsibility is to protect the interests of our communities and ensure that our people benefit from government programmes and interventions,” Arawore said.
He said the Forum understood Governor Oborevwori’s decision to align Delta State with the political leadership at the centre, noting that the move was intended to strengthen federal partnership and attract greater opportunities for the state.
According to him, the Forum’s position was also consistent with that of the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, which had earlier called for unity, peace and support for the Governor’s administration.
Arawore said the Presidents-General would support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and the MORE Agenda of Governor Oborevwori, while urging both administrations to continue prioritising the welfare and development of the people.
Representing the Governor, Akpowowo described the declaration by the Presidents-General as an affirmation of the position earlier taken by Urhobo traditional rulers.
He said the traditional rulers had previously expressed their position on the political direction of Urhobo, while the Presidents-General had now reinforced that position.
“What the Presidents-General have done today is to affirm what the traditional institutions, our Royal Fathers, have said,” Akpowowo said.
The Deputy Speaker also linked the Governor’s support for President Tinubu to the expectation of stronger federal-state collaboration and increased development opportunities for Delta State.
On his part, Chief Sunday Onoriode said the declaration by the Presidents-General extended to APC candidates contesting various elective positions in Urhobo land in the 2027 elections.
“Our candidates contesting for various seats in the next general election in Urhobo land have been endorsed by the PGs of Urhobo land,” Onoriode said, describing the declaration as a reflection of the position expressed by the Forum.
He added that the position followed the earlier pronouncement by Urhobo traditional rulers.
Also speaking, Igrakpata described the development as significant, saying the Presidents-General had expressed their views on the policies and programmes of both the Federal Government and the Delta State Government.
He said the Forum had acknowledged what its members considered the impact of the policies of President Tinubu and the Governor’s MORE Agenda.
