Ogoni votes for Tinubu expected to surge after federal university launch, says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, told a gathering in Tai Local Government Area on Wednesday that “ogoni votes” are likely to flow to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. He linked the anticipated support to the recent establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, a project he said would transform the region’s economy and create jobs. The remarks were made at a Rainbow Coalition town‑hall meeting held in Gbenegininwa Hall, Saakpenwa.

Wike highlighted that the university, realised through the late Senator Barry Mpigi’s efforts, would generate employment for qualified indigenes and stimulate ancillary services such as housing, transport and trade. He warned residents not to underestimate the institution’s impact because it was still in its infancy. “You don’t know what you have because the university just started. By the time this university is four years, five years, then you will know the development,” he said, urging people to look beyond the short‑term and appreciate the long‑term benefits.

The minister also reminded the audience that securing a federal institution involves “extensive legislative and executive processes,” noting that a bill must pass the National Assembly before reaching the President’s desk. He explained that many such proposals linger for years, but this one had finally cleared the hurdles. According to Wike, President Tinubu’s appointment of several sons and daughters of the area to key federal positions further signals the administration’s commitment to Ogoni development.

In a direct appeal to political leaders in Tai, Wike set a target of 70 percent of votes cast for Tinubu and other Rainbow Coalition candidates in the forthcoming elections. He clarified that the figure referred to votes actually cast, not the total number of registered voters, and urged local leaders to maintain Tai’s tradition of delivering early election results in the Rivers South‑East Senatorial District. The minister also cautioned voters to scrutinise the track records of politicians rather than relying solely on campaign promises.

The meeting also served as a platform for reconciliation within the Rainbow Coalition. Wike welcomed back members who had briefly left the coalition after internal disagreements, stressing that none had defected to rival parties. “They didn’t go anywhere. There was no fight, they didn’t go to any other party… we’ve all come back together to work as a team,” he said, praising the Tai council for facilitating the reunion and urging inclusive treatment of returning members.

Mbakpone Okpe, chairman of the Tai Local Government Council and the coalition’s local coordinator, announced a partnership with Wike on an estate project to provide accommodation for students, parents and visitors to the new university. He said the council had already built the university’s entrance gate and a one‑kilometre dual carriageway within the campus, complementing the federal investment. Okpe disclosed that developers would soon sign an agreement for the estate and that the council had set aside N100 million in preparation for an incentive scheme for the project.

During the same session, Okpe reported that Tai had collected 4,568 Permanent Voter Cards in the first‑quarter distribution exercise, a figure he said would help the coalition mobilise supporters across the area’s ten wards. He also paid tribute to the late Senator Barry Mpigi, whose advocacy was instrumental in securing the university, and thanked Wike for his continued support after the senator’s death in March 2026.

The minister concluded by urging the people of Tai and the wider Ogoni community to view the university as a catalyst for sustainable development and to translate that optimism into votes for Tinubu in 2027. He indicated that further meetings will be held to monitor the university’s progress and to coordinate the coalition’s election strategy as the campaign season approaches.