Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not face the kind of political betrayal that led to the ouster of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, vowing that the Niger Delta region will stand solidly behind Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) held in Port Harcourt, Akpabio didn’t mince words as he warned that any attempt to replicate the 2015 political conspiracy would be fiercely resisted.

 “They did it before and conspired to remove our son, President Goodluck Jonathan. This time around, the entire Niger Delta region has decided to speak with one voice,” Akpabio declared.

“Let those conspiring against President Tinubu hear this loud and clear — on his mandate we stand.”

In a statement issued by his media aide, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio described Tinubu as a leader who has done more for the Niger Delta in just over a year than many of his predecessors combined. According to him, no past president has committed as much in terms of projects, resources, and political inclusion to the region as President Tinubu.

The Senate President highlighted major interventions by the Tinubu administration including the establishment of new universities such as the University of Environmental Sciences in Ogoni and a Maritime University in Okerenkoko, alongside other institutions focused on agriculture and technology.

“This is the region that produces the wealth of the nation. We have the right to choose who manages our resources. People should not think anyone can just become president without consulting the Niger Delta,” Akpabio added.

The Port Harcourt event drew a high-powered attendance including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume (who represented Tinubu), Rivers State Administrator Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), federal lawmakers, ministers, and traditional rulers.

Jonathan, in his remarks, commended President Tinubu for retaining the current NDDC board, calling it a “wise decision” that offers the agency a rare chance at continuity and real development. Akume, delivering the President’s goodwill message, reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to the Niger Delta, noting that the region remains central to Nigeria’s future prosperity.

“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not just a road project; it’s a generational investment,” Akume stated, referencing the 750-kilometre mega road that will link up with the East-West Road to open up trade and regional connectivity.

Akpabio also used the platform to criticize past instability within the NDDC, blaming “periwinkle politics” — petty rivalries and internal sabotage — for the abandonment of over 14,700 projects across the region.

 “Every new leadership came with its own vision, abandoning what was started before. That’s why I had to personally see to the completion of the Commission’s headquarters — a project abandoned for over 20 years,” he said.

He, however, praised the current leadership under Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for staying true to the Commission’s founding vision and upholding the principle of continuity, a move he said is being encouraged by Tinubu’s hands-off approach and respect for institutional stability.