The Forum of Urhobo Presidents-General has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as sole candidates, and declared its support for all other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, when a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, visited the Forum’s secretariat in Effurun. Akpowowo represented the Governor. He was accompanied by the Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Solomon Igrakpata, and the State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode.
The Forum’s Chairman, Chief Monday Arawore, said the Presidents-General were committed to working with the government in power.
“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,” he said.
He said the Forum understood the Governor’s decision to align Delta State with the centre, adding that the objective was “to secure stronger federal partnership, attract greater opportunities and advance the development interests of Delta State.” He said the benefits of the closer relationship were already visible.
Arawore noted that the Forum’s stance was in keeping with that of Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, which has called for Urhobo unity, peace and support for the Governor’s administration.
“We therefore pledge our support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the MORE Agenda of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, while urging both governments to continue to put the welfare and development of our people first,” he said.
Akpowowo described the Forum’s position as an affirmation of the stand taken by the traditional rulers. “What the President-General has done today is to affirm what the traditional institutions, our Royal Fathers have said,” he said. He said the endorsement extended beyond the Governor to President Tinubu and all APC candidates in the state.
Onoriode said the endorsement covered every APC candidate contesting elective positions in the 2027 general elections.
“Our candidates contesting for various seats in the next general election in Urhobo land have been endorsed by the PGs of Urhobo land. It’s a clear manifestation of the feeling of the Urhobo people,” he said.
He added: “Our kings have spoken, the PGs have followed suit and in our culture our kings are gods in the land and once they speak it is the words of the god.”
Igrakpata said he was “overwhelmed” by the Presidents-General’s praise of the policies of the Federal Government and the Governor’s MORE Agenda.