Chief Ayirimi Emami.
Peter Nwokoro, Delta
Itsekiri chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayirimi Emami, has thrown his full weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition while grudgingly endorsing Delta State Governor, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, for the same.
The dual endorsement, announced after a strategic gathering of APC Itsekiri leaders in Warri, is being viewed as a landmark move to mend long-standing political rifts within the Warri Federal Constituency and the broader Itsekiri political landscape.
For Emami, whose political loyalty to the APC and Tinubu is well known, backing Oborevwori of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was clearly a bitter pill, one swallowed for the sake of ethnic solidarity and peace.
“I don’t hide where I stand, everyone knows I support President Bola Tinubu completely,” Emami told journalists in a mix of English and Pidgin.
“As for Sheriff, I for no endorse am, but because of the new understanding among our people, I no get choice. I endorse the two of them.”
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The endorsement was formalized during the meeting when former lawmaker Hon. (Barr.) Daniel Omayone Mayuku moved a motion supporting both Tinubu and Oborevwori for re-election.
The motion was seconded by Hon. Otimeyin Origbo and adopted through a unanimous voice vote led by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, who represents Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Observers say the move highlights a growing trend of ethnic-first politics, especially in multi-party regions like Delta State where partisan differences are increasingly set aside in favour of community cohesion.
In a region historically marred by internal divisions, the symbolic handshake between party loyalists and former rivals could shape new political realities ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Politics don divide us tire,” Emami admitted. “But this na good step. We dey try come back together as one family.”
For many in the Niger Delta, the moment goes beyond political endorsements, it’s about healing, finding common ground, and redefining leadership across party lines. Whether this spirit of unity will hold as elections approach remains to be seen, but the signal from Warri is clear: ethnic reconciliation may be the most powerful campaign strategy yet.
