OZORO — The political landscape of the Isoko Nation experienced a significant tremor on Thursday as the Isoko Grassroots Movement (IGM) formally commenced its 2027 electoral activities with a massive show of financial and political force. In a bold move to secure continuity in governance, the prominent political pressure group presented a cheque of N10 million to the member representing Isoko North State Constituency, Hon. Bernard Odior, to facilitate his re-election bid. The event, held in the heart of Ozoro, served not only as a localized endorsement but as a sweeping declaration of support for the current executive leadership at both the state and federal levels.
The gathering, which drew thousands of supporters from across the 13 wards of the Isoko North Local Government Area, culminated in a unanimous endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for second terms in office. Additionally, the group threw its considerable weight behind the member representing the Isoko North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Ajirioghene Ukodhiko, marking a comprehensive "vote of confidence" in the incumbent political class representing the Isoko people.
The day’s proceedings began with a vibrant solidarity procession that snaked through the major thoroughfares of Ozoro. Adorned in party regalia and chanting slogans of continuity, the participants eventually converged at the historic Ala Square. The atmosphere was electric, characterized by a rare display of unity among political stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who gathered to witness the formal launch of the IGM’s 2027 roadmap.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the Director-General of the Isoko Grassroots Movement, Mr. Kingsley Aka, alongside the group’s leader, Chief Timothy Ezue, expressed profound satisfaction with the turnout. They noted that the decision to mobilize so early for the 2027 cycle was born out of a rigorous assessment of the current political landscape. According to the leadership, the movement resolved to back only those they characterized as "performing and people-oriented" leaders who have tangible results to show for their time in office.
The duo was particularly effusive in their praise of President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori, citing the ongoing developmental efforts at the national and state levels as the primary justification for their endorsement. Turning their focus to the legislative arm, they applauded the synergy between Hon. Ukodhiko at the Green Chamber and Hon. Odior at the State Assembly. They highlighted various constituency projects and the lawmakers' unprecedented accessibility to the grassroots as the pillars of their popularity.
Chief Ezue specifically pointed to the legislative record of Hon. Bernard Odior within his first term. He asserted that the lawmaker's achievements—ranging from educational support programs to infrastructural interventions—had more than justified the group’s decision to bankroll his nomination forms. "We are not just supporting him with words; we are putting our resources where our mouth is," Ezue declared. "His performance has earned him the right to a second term to ensure that the development we are seeing in Isoko North is not truncated."
The event also featured high-level endorsements from seasoned political veterans. Chief Emmanuel Edevor, a former Isoko North Local Government Chairman and currently the Executive Assistant to the Governor on political matters, echoed the sentiment of continuity. He joined High Chief Miller Akpoili Daniel, the former President-General of Ozoro Kingdom, in calling for total unity among the Isoko people. Chief Edevor remarked that both Ukodhiko and Odior have performed "credibly well" as first-time legislators, suggesting that a second term would allow them the seniority and experience to consolidate their existing achievements for the benefit of the constituency.
In a moment of formal political procedure, Dr. Paul Oweh, Chairman of the Delta State Hospital Management Board, moved a motion for the collective endorsement of the four candidates: President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, Hon. Ukodhiko, and Hon. Odior. The motion, seconded by Dr. Patrick Akporuno, was adopted through a thunderous and unanimous voice vote that echoed across Ala Square, signaling a formidable grassroots consensus.
The climax of the occasion was the symbolic presentation of the N10 million cheque. The funds, intended to cover the purchase of Hon. Odior’s nomination and expression of interest forms, were received on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Engr. Thomas Amuke. Speaking on behalf of the lawmaker, Amuke expressed deep gratitude to the IGM, noting that such a gesture from a grassroots organization is the highest honor a public servant can receive from his constituents.
As the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape in Delta State, this early and well-funded move by the Isoko Grassroots Movement sets a high bar for political mobilization in the region. By aligning their support across the local, state, and federal levels, the IGM has signaled that the Isoko Nation intends to remain a central player in the broader Nigerian political theater, favoring stability and the consolidation of current developmental gains over political experi
mentation.
