A high-powered delegation of political heavyweights loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led by ex-militant leader High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has reportedly visited former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at his Otuoke residence in Bayelsa State to persuade him to shelve his alleged 2027 presidential ambition.
The visit, which took place on October 16, drew attention across the Niger Delta political landscape, marking Tompolo’s first major public appearance in nearly a decade — a signal of the weight and urgency of his mission.
According to reliable sources, Tompolo was accompanied by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Kestin Pondi, and Joshua Maciver, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa election, among others.
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Inside sources told New Daily Prime that the meeting centered on convincing the former president to abandon any plans to contest in the 2027 general elections and instead throw his support behind President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
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A source privy to the meeting said: “Tompolo told the former President that President Tinubu has done enough to earn the Niger Delta’s continued support. He cited key projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the federal university approved for Ogoniland, and other ongoing regional development initiatives.”
The source added that the discussion was “frank and strategic,” with Tompolo stressing that the region’s political mood no longer favored a Jonathan comeback.
Tompolo reportedly reminded Jonathan that prominent Niger Delta figures, including former First Lady Patience Jonathan and Governor Douye Diri, had already aligned with Tinubu’s re-election movement.
He noted that Mrs. Jonathan’s public endorsement of President Tinubu and Governor Diri’s recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), amid speculations of a planned defection to the APC, were clear indicators of a shifting political tide.
“He urged Jonathan not to be misled by those pushing him to challenge Tinubu,” another insider disclosed. “He warned that the former president would struggle to get home support and emphasized that Tinubu remains unbeatable in a free and fair contest given his current performance.”
The former warlord also reportedly assured Jonathan that he did not need to formally join the APC to support Tinubu, advising him instead to act as a respected statesman who could help deliver the region to the President in 2027.
Jonathan’s Response
A source revealed that while Tompolo declined to speak to journalists after the closed-door meeting,. However, Jonathan said the discussion focused on peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
“Since I left office, we have not seen each other,” Jonathan said. “Tompolo is one young man who has played key roles in the unity of our people. We discussed issues people have been complaining about to ensure the Niger Delta remains peaceful. He has contributed significantly to peace and the protection of oil installations.”
A source close to the former president revealed that Jonathan “listened attentively and promised to reflect carefully on the counsel.”
The visit comes amid widespread speculation that Jonathan is consulting widely ahead of a potential 2027 presidential comeback, possibly under the PDP or in alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) , a platform currently courting several opposition figures across Nigeria.
Observers believe the Bayelsa visit underscores growing efforts by Tinubu’s allies to consolidate his influence in the South-South region and neutralize any emerging opposition from the Niger Delta.
Political analysts say Tompolo’s involvement reflects the delicate balance between politics and regional power dynamics, given his influential grassroots network and ongoing multibillion-naira federal pipeline surveillance contract.
As the 2027 race begins to take shape, the Otuoke meeting may prove a defining moment in determining whether former President Jonathan returns to the political field or joins the growing coalition backing Tinubu’s quest for a second term.
