The Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) in Delta State has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was adopted following a motion moved by the association’s State Treasurer, Comrade Prince Miller, and seconded by the State Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Afatakpa.
The association, with more than 25,000 riders across the state, announced its endorsement during a solidarity visit to the Delta State Government House, Asaba, on Friday.
Leader of the delegation, Chief Godday Obi Nzete, said the association endorsed President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and other APC candidates in appreciation of what he described as the administration’s support for the welfare and interests of its members.
Nzete said motorcycle and tricycle operators had enjoyed greater recognition and accommodation under the Oborevwori administration, saying; “we want to appreciate them for their good work and for the support they have given us as an association in this state".
He described the solidarity visit as an opportunity for the association to reciprocate the government’s support, adding that many of its members had experienced improved livelihoods under the present administration.
According to him, although only a fraction of the association’s estimated 25,000 members participated in the visit, COMTOA would organise a statewide mobilisation to demonstrate its support for the governor and other APC candidates.
“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.
Speaking during the visit, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, urged members of the association to intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.
Emu charged the operators to use their extensive network across communities and their daily interactions with passengers to communicate the party’s message and mobilise support for its candidates.
“The job has just started. Go back to your units and continue preaching the good news,” he said.
The SSG also disclosed that the 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 aimed at strengthening security, creating a safer environment for residents and enabling farmers to return to their farms without fear.
On his part, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Onoriode Agofure, commended COMPTOA for its support, noting that the Oborevwori administration had done much to subsidise daily tickets for riders, making them among the cheapest in the country.
The State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, described the visit as a demonstration of loyalty to the Oborevwori administration and evidence of the APC’s grassroots support.
Onoriode said the governor had made significant contributions to the development of Delta State since assuming office, noting that peace and security were particularly important to commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators whose livelihoods depended on daily movement across communities.
He also commended the administration’s attention to road infrastructure and the welfare of transport operators, describing the relative stability within the association as encouraging.
Also speaking, the APC State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, commended Tinubu for his economic policies, which he said had improved the availability of funds to state and local governments for development projects.
Egbabor urged the operators to support the APC, saying the party’s policies and the increased resources available to governments would enhance their capacity to meet the needs of the people.
Those present included the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo; the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Onoriode Agofure; the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu; the Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor; the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon; and the Director-General of the State Orientation Bureau, Mr Fred Latimore alongside other government officials and party stakeholders.
