PANDEF: We’ve not endorsed any presidential candidate - Punch Newspapers

The Pan Niger Delta Forum on Tuesday declared that it has not declared support for any presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, urging voters in the South-South to choose leaders based on their capacity to advance the interests of the Niger Delta. The forum said it remained non-partisan and was not aligned with any political party or presidential candidate. The National Chairman of PANDEF, Amb Godknows Igali, stated this while addressing journalists after a meeting of the organisation attended by former governors, former ministers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders from the six South-South states. Igali urged the people of the region to scrutinise candidates and vote according to their conscience, stressing that their choices should reflect the development needs of the Niger Delta and the country. He said, “PANDEF is non-partisan and not supporting any candidate. It is not a political party or support group.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources We, therefore, call on the people of the South-South to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully and vote according to their conscience, choosing candidates at all levels whose programmes, commitments, and demonstrated capacity align with the aspirations of the Niger Delta. “I repeat, we call on the people of South-South to exercise their civic responsibility peacefully and vote according to their conscience. “We call on our people to ‘shine your eyes’ and vote according to their conscience. They should look at candidates who have the capacity to help us as a region and move this country forward.” The PANDEF chairman also urged Niger Delta indigenes holding public offices, particularly at the Federal Government level, to demonstrate greater commitment to the organisation’s activities. APC releases supplementary list for Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council Audit 2023 election before 2027 polls, Ondo PDP candidate urges INEC Pipeline security, fresh investments drive Nigeria’s oil ambitions “PANDEF calls on sons and daughters of the Niger Delta who are holding public office, especially at the level of the Federal Government, to show more commitment and interest in the activities of the organisation that are focused on uniting our people and advancing the cause of the Niger Delta.” Also speaking, former Governor Victor Attah, who is also the Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees, said the organisation had not endorsed any candidate for the presidential election. “We are not aligning ourselves with any candidate. PANDEF has remained entirely neutral and non-partisan. “As far as we are concerned, we have stated very clearly that the people of the South-South should shine their eyes and vote for whomever they believe would do their best for the Niger Delta region and the country,” he said. This comes as political parties and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election. Beyond the election, PANDEF renewed its demand for a substantial increase in the derivation allocation to oil-producing states, calling on the Federal Government to raise the current minimum of 13 per cent to 50 per cent. Igali said the proposed increase would help address environmental pollution, infrastructure deficits and other development challenges confronting communities in the oil-producing region. He also called for the abolition of the onshore-offshore dichotomy in revenue allocation, arguing that oil-producing communities should receive a fairer share of the resources extracted from their environment. The PANDEF brings together political leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states to promote the interests of the Niger Delta. Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis The PUNCH journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

ATTENTION NIGERIANS: You can now comfortably earn US Dollars when you acquire premium domains for as low as $3000 and profit $15,000-$35,000. Ideal for professionals like Entrepreneurs, Doctors, Civil/Public servants, IT Experts, Accountants ETC. CLICK HERE TO START.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.