RismadarVoice Reporters, August 19, 2026
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged political parties and their supporters to conduct issue-based and respectful campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Diri made the call on Wednesday during the 195th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, and at the flag-off of the South-South chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, which is mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The Governor advised members of the movement to adopt persuasive rather than confrontational approaches in engaging Nigerians, stressing that democracy accommodates divergent opinions.
He urged political actors not to regard those with opposing views as enemies, but to seek to convince them through constructive engagement and issue-based campaigns.
Diri said the South-South region remained critical to Nigeria’s political development and expressed optimism that the zone and Nigerians would support President Tinubu’s re-election.
He commended the grand patron of the movement, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, for mobilising support for the President, saying Tinubu deserved a second term to consolidate the achievements of his administration.
The Governor also praised the President’s democratic credentials, citing what he described as the conduct of free and fair elections, including his own second-term governorship election in Bayelsa in 2023 and the recent governorship election in Osun State.
Diri congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the election.
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda remained a work in progress and urged the people of the South-South and other parts of the country to support the President for continuity and consolidation.
The Governor also acknowledged the contributions of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo to the mobilisation effort, describing him as a prominent son of the Niger Delta and the South-South region.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Lambert Ototo, expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election, saying the administration had performed well and would achieve more if given another term.
The South-South Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Pastor Reuben Wilson, said the group was established by Ekpemupolo to mobilise grassroots support for the President across the region.
Also speaking, the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the movement, Hon. Daniel Charles, said the South-South was united behind the President’s re-election bid.
The State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Warman Ogoriba, also pledged the support of the party in Bayelsa, urging members of the movement to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure significant votes from the South-South region.
