Tompolo, Niger Delta Leaders Mount Pressure on Jonathan to Back Tinubu in 2027
By Paul Ebi
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under mounting pressure to abandon any plans of contesting the 2027 presidential election and instead support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, Tarakirivoice has learned.
According to multiple reliable sources, the move is being coordinated by influential figures from the Niger Delta, notably ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Sources disclosed that several of Jonathan’s close associates and political allies in the region have privately advised him to reconsider any presidential ambition, arguing that the current political mood in the South-South strongly favours Tinubu’s second-term quest.
Tompolo’s Visit to Otuoke
It was gathered that Tompolo, alongside the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Chief Kestin Pondi, and the APC Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa election, Mr. Joshua Maciver, visited Jonathan at his Otuoke country home in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on October 16.
While the visit was officially described as a “peace and security consultation,” insider sources told Vanguard that the meeting was largely political, with discussions centered on persuading the former president to shelve his speculated 2027 comeback bid.
A source familiar with the discussions said:
> “Tompolo came to see His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in Otuoke, on Friday, October 16, in what was a happy reunion after over a decade. Contrary to reports that the visit was about peace and security in the Niger Delta, it was purely political.
Tompolo appealed to the former president to shelve his rumoured presidential bid in 2027 and support President Tinubu instead.”
‘Niger Deltans Back Tinubu’
The insider further revealed that Tompolo emphasized that the general sentiment among Niger Deltans currently does not favour Jonathan’s return to power.
Tompolo, who also leads the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement — a grassroots organization mobilizing support for Tinubu’s re-election — reportedly told Jonathan that most of the region now supports the continuation of Tinubu’s administration.
> “Tompolo advised Jonathan not to be misled by those claiming he could unseat Tinubu in 2027,” the source added. “He warned that Jonathan might not enjoy the home support he expects if he chooses to contest.”
Jonathan’s Response
Though Jonathan has not publicly declared any presidential ambition, speculation about a possible comeback has persisted within political circles.
Another insider disclosed that the former president listened attentively to Tompolo’s counsel and assured his visitors that he would “reflect deeply” on the matter before taking a final decision.
Speaking briefly with journalists after the closed-door meeting, Jonathan maintained that Tompolo’s visit was primarily to review the prevailing peace situation in the Niger Delta. He neither confirmed nor denied whether political issues were discussed.
Background
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015, remains a key political figure in the Niger Delta and within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His name has frequently surfaced in political discussions ahead of 2027, particularly among groups nostalgic for his administration.
However, the latest moves by regional stakeholders and pro-Tinubu networks appear aimed at dissuading him from joining the race, signalling shifting political alignments within the South-South region.
