₦airaland Forum

[i]Tompolo Leads Niger Delta Pressure to Stop Jonathan’s 2027 Comeback, Urges Support for Tinubu

Fresh political pressure is mounting on former President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon any plan of contesting the 2027 presidential election, as powerful voices from the Niger Delta rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

Findings by The Bureau News reveal that ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has emerged as the leading figure in a growing regional campaign to dissuade Jonathan from returning to the presidential race.

Tompolo, accompanied by top associates including High Chief Kestin Pondi — Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited — and Joshua Maciver, the deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the 2023 Bayelsa election, paid a surprise private visit to Jonathan at his Otuoke residence in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on October 16, 2025.

The meeting, which reportedly lasted several hours, was Tompolo’s first public outing in nearly a decade — a sign, sources say, of the “gravity and urgency” of his mission.

Behind Closed Doors: The Political Mission of Tompolo

Although both men told reporters the visit was about “peace and stability” in the Niger Delta, insiders confirmed to The Bureau News that the discussions were deeply political and centered on the 2027 elections.

“Yes, the meeting held,” a close Jonathan ally confirmed. “Stakeholders in the Niger Delta believe President Tinubu has done a lot for the region — from the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the new university in Ogoni land. That’s why Tompolo urged the former President to support Tinubu’s re-election instead of running.”

Another source revealed that Jonathan, though initially considering a comeback, listened carefully as Tompolo made a passionate appeal for unity and continuity. “He was honest,” the source added. “He told Jonathan that most Niger Deltans prefer Tinubu to complete his programmes till 2031.”

Tompolo’s Message: ‘Borrow a Leaf From Your Wife’

According to sources, Tompolo reminded Jonathan that his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, had already thrown her public support behind President Tinubu. He also noted that Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri was aligning with the same movement and preparing to switch allegiance from the PDP to the APC.

“Tompolo told him bluntly that the people’s psyche is no longer in favour of a comeback,” another insider said. “He asked him to borrow a leaf from his wife and Diri — to stand with Tinubu as a statesman, not as a rival.”

A Renewed Alliance in the Niger Delta

Tompolo’s renewed activism marks a political turning point. Beyond leading the multi-billion-naira pipeline surveillance contract for the Federal Government, he also heads the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, a grassroots mobilization network working to deliver Tinubu’s re-election across the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Analysts say the endorsement of Tinubu by such influential figures could reshape the 2027 political landscape, particularly in regions that once stood firmly behind Jonathan.

Jonathan’s Response: Diplomatic but Measured

While maintaining his trademark composure, Jonathan told journalists after the meeting that the discussion focused on peace and unity in the region.

“Since I left office, we haven’t seen each other. Tompolo is one young man who has played key roles in maintaining unity and peace in the Niger Delta,” Jonathan said. “We discussed ways to sustain peace and protect our oil installations.”

However, multiple credible insiders insist that the political undertone dominated the meeting. “Jonathan appreciated Tompolo’s advice and promised to reflect deeply on it before making his decision,” one close aide disclosed.

‘Tompolo’s Visit Was Historic’ — Associates Say

Within Tompolo’s circle, the visit was described as historic — not only because of the personalities involved but also because of its symbolism. “For a man who has stayed off public politics for almost ten years to re-emerge just to deliver this message says everything,” an aide noted.

Meanwhile, former Labour Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Udengs Eradiri, dismissed speculations of a Jonathan comeback, describing them as political gossip. “Until he declares, it’s all rumours,” he said. “Tompolo visiting Jonathan is natural — out of respect for his leadership, not necessarily a political endorsement.”

Still, many observers believe the tide in the Niger Delta is shifting decisively in favour of Tinubu’s re-election — with regional leaders choosing influence and stability over nostalgia and political revival.

As one source put it, “The Niger Delta no longer wants to go back. Tompolo’s visit wasn’t just a courtesy call — it was a message of finality.”

Source: The Bureau News

This is a cock and bull story, all these tinubu e'rats will not stop manufacturing fake narratives to justify their share of the looting of our national resources

Pressure, what Pressure? It's rather an advice. What did Jonathan leave in Aso Rock?
The who used him and sold him out the first time are the ones trying to use him for the 2nd and they will still probably sell him out.

“Stakeholders in the Niger Delta believe President Tinubu has done a lot for the region — from the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the new university in Ogoni land."

A lot indeed.

The master strategist's only pathway to victory is to run unopposed. He is using a combination of begging, threats, disenfranchisement, subterfuge, sabotage and infiltration of other political parties to stop them from fielding candidates. He's already using the national assembly to apply pressure on Jonathan by probing his 90 billion naira CCTV Chinese loans. Jonathan was also conspicuously replaced with Osinbajo as an ECOWAS election observer to Ivory Coast. Master strategist una!

Even if Jona ran and came back, the good times will.not come.back.

Even if assuming tinubu won and oil went up to 159 per barrel, a lot of the revenue would be lost paying off debts

Only leader Nigeria needs is one who will make our economy dependent on manufacturing and exporting manufactured goods and services.

GEJ, tinubu , even obi are not it.

Nigerians should not vote for apc again abeg

ChiefOloye:
Pressure, what Pressure? It's rather an advice. What did Jonathan leave in Aso Rock?
The who used him and sold him out the first time are the ones trying to use him for the 2nd and they will still probably sell him out.

The major sellout was his fellow "Southern brother" who travelled all the way to Daura to convince Buhari to come out of retirement and help chase Jonathan out of power. He's now begging for Southern unity because he has sold out his allies in the Northern bloc after using muslim-muslim to win. He would still sellout the other South again if he gets re-elected. It's in the blood.

AMINDA:
The major sellout was his fellow "Southern brother" who travelled all the way to Daura to convince Buhari to come out of retirement and help chase Jonathan out of power. He's now begging for Southern unity because he has sold out his allies in the Northern bloc after using muslim-muslim to win. He would still sellout the South again if he gets re-elected. It's in the blood.

Asiwaju didn't betray GEJ, because they were never allies. The only time their paths crossed was in 2011 and Osun, the biggest voting bloc in the South West was delivered to President Jonathan, as part of the deal, even at the expense of Ribadu's failed presidential bid. The alliance of ACN/CPC in 2013 was a child of necessities.
Lessons were learnt thereafter.

ChiefOloye:
Asiwaju didn't betray GEJ, because they were never allies. The only time their paths crossed was in 2011 and Osun, the biggest voting bloc in the South West was delivered to President Jonathan, as part of the deal, even at the expense of Ribadu's failed presidential bid. The alliance of ACN/CPC in 2013 was a child of necessities.
Lessons were learnt thereafter.

If there were never allies, why is he then sending Tompolo to beg Jonathan not to contest? Why has Festus Keyamo, Bayo Onanuga and Co turned themselves into emergency legal advisers of Jonathan trying to talk him out of contesting? Jonathan and Tinubu are not allies and are in different parties, he should quit going through corners and prepare to meet Jonathan and all other candidates at the polls instead of using state powers to prevent them all from contesting against him.

As every recognised politician in the Niger Delta has moved to APC, Goodluck Jonathan is now sponsoring people to urge him not to go ahead and disgrace himself

Jonathan never had any presidential ambition in the first place... Make una rest biko

AMINDA:
If there were never allies, why is he then sending Tompolo to beg Jonathan not to contest? Why has Festus Keyamo, Bayo Onanuga and Co turned themselves into emergency legal advisers of Jonathan trying to talk him out of contesting? Jonathan and Tinubu are not allies and are in different parties, he should quit going through corners and prepare to meet Jonathan and all other candidates at the polls instead of using state powers to prevent them all from contesting against him.

It is Jonathan that is sending people to himself urging himself not to be stripped nakked at the market square. Whom is remaining in Niger Delta who is not in APC apart from Goodluck Jonathan and Rotimi Amaechi, two insignificant quotients

AMINDA:
“Stakeholders in the Niger Delta believe President Tinubu has done a lot for the region — from the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the new university in Ogoni land."

A lot indeed.

The master strategist's only pathway to victory is to run unopposed. He is using a combination of begging, threats, disenfranchisement, subterfuge, sabotage and infiltration of other political parties to stop them from fielding candidates. He's already using the national assembly to apply pressure on Jonathan by probing his 90 billion naira CCTV Chinese loans. Jonathan was also conspicuously replaced with Osinbajo as an ECOWAS election observer to Ivory Coast. Master strategist una!

Lolsss, I thought Osibanjo is part of the people you accused us of tagging betrayals? So President Tinubu can still engage the people that betrayed, even an international functions?
Let the truth also be told, the Niger Delta are having it better under Asiwaju.

APCNig:
As every recognised politician in the Niger Delta has moved to APC, Goodluck Jonathan is now sponsoring unknown people to urge him not to go ahead and disgrace himself

None of the Southsouthern politicians were in the Labour party when Obi won all the Southsouthern states. The governors won all their reelection in their various parties but still failed to deliver Tinubu. Clearly shows that the people are now more enlightened and know what they want. Tinubu is trying to remedy that by bending the rules and having all elections on the same day but it won't save him.

AMINDA:
If there were never allies, why is he then sending Tompolo to beg Jonathan not to contest? Why has Festus Keyamo, Bayo Onanuga and Co turned themselves into emergency legal advisers of Jonathan trying to talk him out of contesting? Jonathan and Tinubu are not allies and are in different parties, he should quit going through corners and prepare to meet Jonathan and all other candidates at the polls instead of using state powers to prevent them all from contesting against him.

There's always the first time. GEJ has to be dissuaded from contesting, because the people who are pushing for his candidature are doing, not because they think he can win, but they want to fragment the votes of the South, so that Atiku can have his way. Oga, e no go work.

ChiefOloye:
Lolsss, I thought Osibanjo is part of the people you accused us of tagging betrayals? So President Tinubu can still engage the people that betrayed, even an international functions?
Let the truth also be told, the Niger Delta are having it better under Asiwaju.

Did you or did you not tag Osinbajo, Ambode, Fashola, Aregbesola, Fayemi, Sanwo-olu, etc as betrayers? A betrayer to you is anyone who chooses to find their own path away from the suffocating grip of your tin-god. Kwankwaso formed the APC along with Buhari but left him to find his own path and even contested against him. No Northerner calls him a betrayer and today, Tinubu is now seeking to form an alliance with him. Your tin-god is the only one who ruled a state from the set of 1999 governors and still has a firm grip on the resources of the state. No wonder Sanwo-olu allegedly funded Atiku's campaign and might do it again. They are all struggling to break free from the chokehold.

ChiefOloye:
There's always the first time. GEJ has to be dissuaded from contesting, because the people who are pushing for his candidature are doing, not because they think he can win, but they want to fragment the votes of the South, so that Atiku can have his way. Oga, e no go work.

When did Southern votes suddenly belong to Tinubu? Did he win the South in 2023? Last I checked, he won only 4 states (all from the SW) in the entire South. Even his appointments and projects reflected that. Two years to an election, he's now laying claim to Southern votes by destroying the Labour party to disenfranchise Obi and attempting to do same to Jonathan. I thought Tinubu and Jonathan are not allies? Why does he want to be the only Southern candidate on the ballot? Emergency lover of the South. You want Southern votes but you are actively telling the other South domiciled in your states to go back to where they came from.

AMINDA:
None of the Southsouthern politicians were in the Labour party when Obi won all the Southsouthern states. The governors won all their reelection in their various parties but still failed to deliver Tinubu. Clearly shows that the people are now more enlightened and know what they want. Tinubu is trying to remedy that by bending the rules and having all elections on the same day but it won't save him.

Obi won all Southsouthern states? So your party PDP didn't win Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom? Wike delivered Rivers to APC.

opes:
Obi won all Southsouthern states? So your party PDP didn't win Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom? Wike delivered Rivers to APC.

Wike indeed, delivered Rivers to Tinubu but the people of Rivers never voted for Tinubu. So, Akpabio couldn't even deliver his state? Didn't the people of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom know it was "Southern turn" when they voted Atiku, a Northerner under the PDP in 2023? Proves my theory that Tinubu is unsellable in the South beyond Yorubaland.

AMINDA:
Wike indeed, delivered Rivers to Tinubu but the people of Rivers never voted for Tinubu. So, Akpabio couldn't even deliver his state? Didn't the people of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom know it was "Southern turn" when they voted Atiku, a Northerner under the PDP in 2027? Proves my theory that Tinubu is unsellable in the South beyond Yorubaland.

But you said Obi won all Southsouthern states? Udom Emmanuel was the governor in 2023, not Akpabio

Pressure, what pressure?



So that was why Tompolo went to visit him?

Imagine these bloody militants who are supposed to be rottening in prison begging Jonathan to drop his ambition because the current govt gives them business to do.

He must contest o. As e be say sense no Dey again.

nairalanda1:
Even if Jona ran and came back, the good times will.not come.back.

Even if assuming tinubu won and oil went up to 159 per barrel, a lot of the revenue would be lost paying off debts

Only leader Nigeria needs is one who will make our economy dependent on manufacturing and exporting manufactured goods and services.

GEJ, tinubu , even obi are not it.

Nigerians should not vote for apc again abeg

Oya tell us who that leader is naa!! Una go just open mouth waah!!!!

Omo iya mi. That’s just the fact and truth about all the issue that does who hate and brainwashed don’t know if this man try and come out he will fully be disgrace that’s for sure…. Coz the calamity he bought during is tenure was why and what have Buhari the room to rule coz that man is very weak not a bold man at all…

ChiefOloye:
Pressure, what Pressure? It's rather an advice. What did Jonathan leave in Aso Rock?
The who used him and sold him out the first time are the ones trying to use him for the 2nd and they will still probably sell him out.

APCNig:
It is Jonathan that is sending people to himself urging himself not to be stripped nakked at the market square. Whom is remaining in Niger Delta who is not in APC apart from Goodluck Jonathan and Rotimi Amaechi, two insignificant quotients

You call Jonathan insignificant, I don suffer. You think we in Niger Delta actually rate Tinubu. GOD abeg oo.
If not that we are in a unitary system, it's meant to be Niger Delta and others when it comes to Presidency.

Those are the people that TRUELY love him.

He should listen to them.

I might as well tagged penguin2 along,,, why is the presidency jiltery about a jonathan Nigerians wont come out to vote

Onanuga said jonathan can contest if he want But they will drag him to court 🤣 who takes a nobody seriously

Now we have Tompolo of all people compelling Jonathan not to contest .... why are they not begging Sowore not to contest

they are strangely jiltery nd they can't even hide it, why ??

ChiefOloye:
Asiwaju didn't betray GEJ, because they were never allies. The only time their paths crossed was in 2011 and Osun, the biggest voting bloc in the South West was delivered to President Jonathan, as part of the deal, even at the expense of Ribadu's failed presidential bid. The alliance of ACN/CPC in 2013 was a child of necessities.
Lessons were learnt thereafter.

Osun actually went to Ribadu.

If Apc and Tinubu has really done well so why are they always too concern about who want to run for the presidency….They know Nigerians will vote them out massively the moment a better alternative contest is why they are doing everything possible to stop PO and GEJ from contesting

Morenikeji090:
Omo iya mi. That’s just the fact and truth about all the issue that does who hate and brainwashed don’t know if this man try and come out he will fully be disgrace that’s for sure…. Coz the calamity he bought during is tenure was why and what have Buhari the room to rule coz that man is very weak not a bold man at all…

My Southwestern brother, allow him to contest and then defeat him at the polls, if you can. That's the democratic thing to do. Stop sending people to beg him not to contest.

I am a Yoruba man but Yoruba is the biggest problem of the country absolutely….

If he contests, he will split votes from the South, which will affect APC more than any other major party.