A Delta State traders’ association using the Ohanaeze name has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the 2027 elections, pledging ₦25 million, two campaign vehicles and hotel accommodation. However, questions remain over whether the endorsement by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Traders and Independent Workers Association (ONTIWA) represents the wider Igbo trading community in Delta State or the position of one association and its members.
Key Highlights
- ONTIWA’s Delta State chapter endorsed Tinubu and Oborevwori ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Members pledged ₦25 million in cash, two campaign vehicles and hotel accommodation.
- The group announced its support during a visit to Oborevwori in Osubi on October 8, 2026.
- Chairman Deacon Samuel Okoye said the endorsement was based on the governor’s performance and commitment to Delta State.
- Oborevwori linked his move to the APC to the need for closer cooperation with the Federal Government.
- No responses from the PDP, other opposition parties or rival Igbo traders’ associations have been reported.
- The endorsement does not, by itself, establish how Igbo traders or Anioma communities across Delta State will vote in 2027.
Ohanaeze Traders Announce ₦25m Pledge for Tinubu, Oborevwori
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, Deacon Samuel Okoye, chairman of ONTIWA’s Delta State chapter,led members of the association to meet Governor Oborevwori
Okoye said the association’s decision was based on what members described as the governor’s performance, accessibility and commitment to the development of Delta State.
He said the group did not want ethnicity to determine its political position, arguing that its support was based on what it considered the broader interests of the state.
“This is not just about tribal influence. It is about the good and general interest of the entire state,” he said.
Okoye added that members had begun grassroots mobilisation to promote the association’s position ahead of the 2027 elections.
How Members Shared the Campaign Donations
The association’s announced contributions included cash, campaign vehicles and accommodation support.
Chief Okwudiri Ugochukwu donated one branded campaign vehicle and ₦5 million, while Chief Odinakachukwu Mgbenobi contributed a second vehicle and ₦10 million.
Mgbenobi also offered a wing of his hotel to accommodate campaign officials and visitors during the electioneering period.
Professor Sebastian Onu pledged a further ₦10 million, bringing the total disclosed cash contributions to ₦25 million, alongside the two vehicles and hotel accommodation.
The pledges demonstrate the commitments announced by the participating members. However, they do not establish that the donations represent the financial position or political preferences of the wider Igbo trading community in Delta State.
Oborevwori Links APC Defection to Federal Government Relations
Responding to the delegation, Oborevwori thanked the association for its support and linked his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the need for closer cooperation between Delta State and the Federal Government.
The governor said he had considered his relationship with traders and the importance of working with the Federal Government before making the political move.
“Before I moved into APC, I thought about you. I thought about our relationship and the need to work together to move Delta forward,” he said.
He also urged the association to support both him and Tinubu at the 2027 polls.
“If you love me, when the election comes, you must support me and Mr President. It is not about me alone; it is about the overall interest of our people,” Oborevwori said.
The governor also referred to his private-sector background, saying he understood the importance of traders and entrepreneurs to the economy.
His remarks placed the endorsement within the broader political realignment in Delta State following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Read also:
- 2027: Ohanaeze Traders Throw Weight Behind Tinubu, Oborevwori
- Delta Political Group Endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori, APC Candidates for 2027 Elections
- 2027: Urhobo PGs Endorse Tinubu, Oborevwori APC Candidates
Anioma Politics Adds Another Dimension to 2027
The endorsement also comes amid changing political alignments in Delta State, particularly following Oborevwori’s move from the PDP to the APC.
The Anioma area of Delta North is an important part of the state’s political landscape, but the endorsement by a traders’ association in Osubi does not establish how Anioma politicians, traders or voters will position themselves in 2027.
Questions remain about whether the governor’s argument for closer ties with the Federal Government will resonate across different communities and political groups.
Endorsement Signals Support, but Wider Impact Remains Unclear
ONTIWA’s Delta State chapter has pledged ₦25 million, two campaign vehicles and hotel accommodation in support of Tinubu and Oborevwori ahead of the 2027 elections.
The association says its position reflects its assessment of the governor’s performance and the interests of Delta State. Oborevwori has presented closer cooperation with the Federal Government as one reason for his APC defection.
However, the endorsement of one association should not be treated as a measure of the preferences of all Igbo traders or Anioma communities across Delta State. Further responses from other market organisations, opposition parties and community stakeholders would help establish the broader political context.
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