ADC Warri Youth O’Clock Distances Self From Bomadi Rally, Arguing Ijaw Nation Never Endorsed Tinubu, Oborevwori

By Monday Peters, Abuja

A political firestorm has erupted in the Niger Delta after the Youth O’Clock Agenda publicly disowned a controversial rally in Bomadi, Delta State, where claims emerged that the Ijaw (Izon) Nation had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governor Elder Sheriff Oborevwori for a second term.

In a scathing press statement issued on Sunday, April 18, 2026, the group, led by Comrade Daniel Ezekiel Perela, aspirant for the House of Representatives, Warri Federal Constituency 2027, described the alleged endorsement as a “deliberate misrepresentation” and a dangerous attempt to hijack the collective voice of the Ijaw people.

“Let it be stated boldly and without ambiguity: the Ijaw (Izon) Nation did not collectively endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement declared.

Youth O’Clock accused unnamed political actors of staging the Bomadi event to curry favor for appointments and contracts, warning that the identity and political will of the Ijaw Nation must never be “assumed, hijacked, or sold for convenience.”

“It is shameful that some, out of desperation, have thrown truth under the bus just to impress and gain favour,” the group said. “The organizers of the kangaroo Bomadi Town event should tell Nigerians which specific area Tinubu performed in that makes him eligible for a second term.”

The movement dismissed the rally as a gathering of “individuals chasing appointments, contracts, and personal benefits” and insisted it does not reflect the position of the broader Ijaw Nation.

The statement painted a bleak picture of current realities in the Niger Delta, citing worsening economic hardship, environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and insecurity.

“Economy is in shambles, families can barely feed once a day. Infrastructure is zero, insecurity has so much taken over the land to the point that Tinubu couldn’t enter Jos to condole with the families of terrorist attacks,” the group said. “Is this what deserves endorsement?”

It challenged promoters of the alleged endorsement to publicly list the administration’s achievements in the region that would warrant such support.

In what observers have called the most striking line of the statement, Youth O’Clock declared: “Let me state it emphatically that Ijaw Nation is not for sale or a negotiating tool to enjoy Hollywood actors’ lifestyle.”

The group said the Ijaw people, like every other ethnic nationality in Nigeria, reserve the right to make independent political choices based on their “realities, aspirations, and lived experiences.”

Positioning itself as “a movement of awakening,” Youth O’Clock called on young people to rise beyond propaganda and demand accountability, while urging community leaders to “speak truth without fear or compromise.”

Comrade Ezekiel said the agenda represents a new generation of leadership “that listens before speaking, serves before demanding, and builds before boasting.” He said his vision for Warri Federal Constituency is anchored on inclusive governance, youth empowerment, economic revitalization, and the restoration of dignity to the people.

“This is not about endorsing or rejecting individuals blindly. It is about restoring the power of choice to the people,” the statement read. “The Ijaw (Izon) Nation is not a political tool. It is a people with a voice. And that voice must be heard — clearly, truthfully, and without distortion.”

The declaration has sparked intense reactions across political circles, youth groups, and community stakeholders in the Niger Delta. With political alignments already taking shape ahead of future elections, the bold rejection signals growing resistance among grassroots movements in the region.

“Youth O’Clock is now. The future is ours to shape,” the statement concluded.