It has been confirmed that
Niger Delta ex-militant commander, High Chief (Dr) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, is among top citizens of the Niger Delta Geo-political zone currently mounting pressure on former President Goodluck Jonathan to jettison his 2027 presidential ambition.
Sources said this is the main reason Tompolo paid a visit to Jonathan at his Otuoke community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday, October 16, 2025.
The visit is considered to be Tompolo’s second meeting with Jonathan in over a decade.
The ex-militant leader was accompanied on the trip by the Managing Director of his oil pipelines surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief Kestin Pondi and the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state, Hon. Joshua Maciver, among other prominent citizens of the oil-rich.
Tompolo, is also the convener and founder of the “PBAT- Door-2-Door, a frontline grassroots political movement in the vanguard of the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, for a second term in office in 2027.
Sources close to the meeting said Tompolo made it clear to Jonathan that those opposed to his 2027 bid, especially his kinsmen in the Niger Delta,
want him to drop his ambition and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office in 2027.
Sources further said that contrary to reports by a section of the media on his historical visit, the meeting was actually aimed at persuading Jonathan not to contest the 2027 presidential election.
During the meeting, Tompolo was said to have told Jonathan bluntly that the psyche of his kinsmen in the Niger Delta was unfavourable to his rumoured ambition of returning to power.
Tompolo, in his frank discussion with the former president also reportedly told him that his kinsmen are largely in favour of Tinubu’s second term bid.
“Tompolo pointedly told Jonathan that he might not secure the much desired “home support” if he insisted on running for the presidency on any of the political platforms in the forthcoming general elections,” the source said.
Sources said Tompolo clearly impressed it upon Jonathan to support Tinubu in office till 2031.
“Tompolo urged Jonathan to borrow a leaf from his wife and ex- first lady, Patience and Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, who had joined the movement for the re-election of the incumbent Nigerian leader in 2027.
“Tompolo also encouraged Ex-President Jonathan to join a consensus front in the Niger Delta for the continuity of southern presidency with Tinubu as beneficiary till 2031,” the source revealed.
One of the sources further disclosed that Tompolo said the recent resignation of Diri from the main opposition platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his anticipated defection into APC, had made it imperative for Jonathan to team up with his team to tenaciously work to ensure the re-election of Tinubu in 2027.
One of the attendees said : “Tompolo came to see His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, in his village, Otuoke, on Friday, October 16th in what was a happy re-union 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.
“Tompolo advised our leader not to be persuaded and not giving 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 2027.
“He made President Jonathan to understand that he won’t get the much required home support for his aspiration.
“He specifically pointed out 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 into APC, as having diminished him.”
“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 three 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.
“Consequently, he enjoined President Jonathan to join the vanguard for the re-election of Tinubu in 2027, that a contrary action will surely not going to be in his interest and in the over all interest of his people of the Niger Delta.
“He further counselled that President Goodluck Jonathan, does not have to defect into APC, that he can remain a statesman to work and deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for a second term of office,” added the source, who craved anonymity.
Also speaking, another source at the meeting said Jonathan, who listened to his guest with rapt attention, promised to consider his advice.
“Jonathan acknowledged wisdom in his submissions.
“President Goodluck Jonathan appreciated Tompolo for his visit and acknowledged his wise counsels on the political permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“President Jonathan promised to review his counsels and make public his decisions in no distant future,” the source, who pleaded not to have his names in print, hinted further.
Tompolo didn’t grant press interview after the meeting.
However, Jonathan, who spoke to newsmen after the closed door meeting, merely said Tompolo visited him to review the prevailing peace in the region.
The ex-president didn’t make any reference to the political component of the parley with his visitors.
Jonathan merely said : “Since I left office, we have not seen each others.
“Tompolo is one young man, who has played key roles 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,” he added.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
