Delta Decides 2027: COMTOA Mobilizes for Tinubu, Oborevwori Ahead of General Elections

 

By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq.

The growing importance of grassroots political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections has come into focus in Delta State, following the declaration of support by the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

With an estimated membership of more than 25,000 commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators across Delta State, COMTOA represents a sizeable grassroots network whose daily interactions with passengers, traders and residents provide opportunities for community-level political engagement. The association has pledged to organise statewide mobilisation in support of the APC candidates.

The declaration was made during a solidarity visit to the Delta State Government House, Asaba, on Friday. The endorsement was formally adopted through a motion moved by the association’s State Treasurer, Comrade Prince Miller, and seconded by the State Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Afatakpa.

Leader of the delegation, Chief Godday Obi Nzete, said the endorsement was informed by what he described as the administration’s recognition of the association and its support for the welfare and interests of commercial transport operators.

Nzete said the visit provided an opportunity to appreciate the state government and reciprocate its support, adding: “We want to appreciate them for their good work and for the support they have given us as an association in this state.”

He disclosed that only a fraction of COMTOA’s estimated 25,000 members participated in the visit but pledged a broader mobilisation across Delta State ahead of the elections. “We are ready to set aside a day to mobilise our members across the entire state in support of Sheriff and all APC candidates, from the presidency down,” Nzete said.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, welcomed the association’s declaration and urged members to intensify grassroots engagement in support of Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates. He noted that the operators’ extensive community networks and daily interactions with passengers offered opportunities to communicate the party’s message.

“The job has just started. Go back to your units and continue preaching the good news,” Emu said, charging the association’s leadership to sustain mobilisation at the unit level as political activities build towards 2027.

Beyond the political engagement, Emu disclosed that the Delta State Government had recruited and equipped 1,000 forest guards to combat criminal activities and flush out criminals from forests across the state. He said the initiative was intended to strengthen security and enable farmers to return to their farms without fear, while creating a safer environment for residents and economic activities.

The Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Onoriode Agofure, commended COMTOA for its support and highlighted measures taken by the Oborevwori administration to reduce the operating costs of commercial riders. He said the government had subsidised daily tickets, making them more affordable and easing the financial burden on transport operators.

The State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, described the solidarity visit as a demonstration of support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administrations at federal and state levels, and evidence of the APC’s grassroots engagement. He highlighted the governor’s contributions to state development, particularly in road infrastructure, peace and security, which he said were essential to operators whose livelihoods depend on daily movement across communities.

Onoriode added that improved roads and a stable operating environment were important to the welfare and productivity of commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators. His remarks underscored the relationship between transport-sector welfare, public infrastructure and the political alignment declared by COMTOA.

The APC State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, also urged the association’s members to support Tinubu, Oborevwori and other party candidates in the 2027 elections. He commended Tinubu’s economic policies, which he said had improved the availability of funds to state and local governments for development projects.

Egbabor argued that increased resources available to the different tiers of government would enhance their capacity to provide infrastructure and address citizens’ needs. He encouraged the operators to sustain community engagement and mobilise support for APC candidates at all levels.

COMTOA’s declaration highlights the role organised occupational groups can play in grassroots political mobilisation. With members operating across communities, the association has a potential platform for political communication and engagement. However, its estimated membership should be distinguished from the number of members who have actively participated in the endorsement or any subsequent campaign activities.

The solidarity visit was attended by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo; Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Onoriode Agofure; Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu; Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon; and Director-General of the State Orientation Bureau, Mr Fred Latimore, alongside other government officials and APC stakeholders.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, COMTOA’s pledge places grassroots mobilisation at the centre of its declared support for Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates. The proposed statewide exercise will provide an opportunity to assess how the association intends to organise its membership and translate its endorsement into coordinated political engagement across Delta State.

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Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq., is APC Communication Strategist and Director-General,Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Governor's Office Asaba.  He's a member of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).