PBAT Movement Targets Landslide Victory for Tinubu in Rivers

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement has expressed confidence that Rivers State will deliver massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, citing the state’s electoral strength and the Federal Government’s investments in the oil and gas sector.

The Rivers State Coordinator of the movement, Dr Kingsley Ogu, stated this on Monday during the commissioning and inauguration of the organisation’s state secretariat in Rivers State.

Ogu, who was joined by the movement’s National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, and other leaders and members, described Rivers as a strategic electoral battleground, given its 23 local government areas and over three million registered voters.

He said the movement’s endorsement of Tinubu was informed largely by the economic implications of the administration’s policies, particularly its interventions in the petroleum industry and efforts to attract investments into the oil and gas sector.

According to him, the three executive orders issued by the President to address bottlenecks in contract awards, accelerate project implementation and strengthen the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would improve operations in the sector and boost economic activities in oil-producing communities.

Ogu also highlighted the Federal Government’s renewed engagement with Ogoni communities towards the possible resumption of oil exploration, describing it as a development that could expand employment opportunities and increase revenue for Rivers State.

He further cited the proposed federal university in Ogoni, improved road access to Bonny Island and the gas development project at OML 58 as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the state’s development.

On mobilisation, the coordinator disclosed that the Rivers chapter had established a structure of 12 executives in each polling unit, which he said would provide more than 70,000 grassroots mobilisers across the state.

He explained that the structure would facilitate direct engagement with voters and strengthen the movement’s presence in communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ogu attributed the establishment of the state secretariat to the financial contributions and sacrifices of members, noting that the facility was a demonstration of their determination to build a strong and functional political organisation.

In his remarks, Asuku described the movement, founded by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as a formidable grassroots mobilisation platform with a nationwide presence.

He commended the Rivers leadership for its commitment, particularly acknowledging the participation of women, whom he described as critical to the success of the movement’s mobilisation efforts.

Asuku said the organisation was determined to secure an overwhelming victory for Tinubu in 2027 through sustained grassroots engagement across communities, religious institutions and other social platforms.

He identified the removal of fuel subsidy, local government autonomy and the proposed introduction of state policing among the administration’s major reforms, arguing that they demonstrated Tinubu’s willingness to take difficult decisions in pursuit of national development.

While acknowledging the economic difficulties associated with subsidy removal, he maintained that the policy had increased allocations to state governments and enhanced their capacity to meet financial obligations.

The national coordinator also commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as an important intervention that had widened access to higher education and eased the financial burden on students.

He urged Nigerians to evaluate political leaders based on their records in public office rather than campaign promises, insisting that Tinubu’s experience as a former Lagos State governor and his current administration’s reforms justified another term.

Asuku consequently charged members of the movement to intensify door-to-door campaigns, community sensitisation and grassroots mobilisation to secure support for the President.

He expressed confidence that the commitment demonstrated by the Rivers chapter would contribute significantly to Tinubu’s re-election prospects.

The event ended with a renewed pledge by the state chapter to expand its organisational structure and intensify mobilisation under the movement’s slogan, “Every Door Matters.”