Union pledges grassroots mobilisation, logistical support for APC campaign
The Delta State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The union announced its position on Thursday during a solidarity visit by its Delta North and Delta South chapters to Governor Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba, where its leaders expressed confidence in the policies and development programmes of the federal and state governments.
Speaking on behalf of the union, its chairman, Chief (Comrade) Francis Arhiyor, JP, said the economic policies of the Tinubu administration and investments in road infrastructure were creating opportunities for transport workers.
Arhiyor stressed that good and motorable roads remained critical to the survival of the transport sector, noting that road construction and rehabilitation projects across Delta State had improved mobility, facilitated commerce and enhanced the operations of transporters.
He also argued that federal government reforms had increased revenue allocations to states and local governments, providing additional resources for infrastructure development and social intervention programmes.
The NURTW chairman urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration, expressing optimism that the economy would improve further under Tinubu’s leadership.
According to him, Delta State, as a major oil-producing state, could benefit from increased government revenue following the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he said had strengthened the state’s capacity to execute development projects.
The Tinubu administration has introduced major economic measures, including petrol subsidy removal, foreign-exchange reforms, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), consumer credit initiatives and tax reforms. While the government has presented these policies as part of its economic restructuring agenda, concerns about inflation and the rising cost of living remain among the challenges facing Nigerians.
Oborevwori’s Infrastructure Agenda
At the state level, Arhiyor also highlighted infrastructure development under Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda, which guides the administration’s stated priorities.
Major projects include road construction and rehabilitation, as well as flyover developments in parts of the Warri-Effurun axis, Ughelli, Agbor and other locations across the state.
The projects are intended to improve connectivity, ease traffic congestion and facilitate commercial activities.
The state government has also pursued programmes in education, healthcare, skills development and social support, with the stated objectives of improving living standards, expanding opportunities for young people and assisting vulnerable residents.
Arhiyor said the union’s assessment of the two administrations informed its decision to endorse Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates for the 2027 elections.
He further declared the union’s readiness to mobilise its members at the grassroots and provide logistical support for the APC campaign across Delta State.
Erijo, Onoriode React to NURTW Endorsement
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Johnson Erijo, urged the union to translate its endorsement into electoral support for Tinubu and other APC candidates.
Erijo noted that the relationship between the Delta State Government and the federal government had strengthened efforts to attract development projects to the state.
Also speaking, the State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and commended the NURTW for supporting what he described as sustained good governance under Oborevwori’s leadership.
Oborevwori Assures Transport Workers of Continued Support
Responding, Governor Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, thanked the union for its solidarity and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a productive relationship with transport workers.
The governor described the NURTW as a valuable partner in the state’s development and assured its members that his administration would continue to implement policies and programmes aimed at improving their welfare across Delta State’s three senatorial districts.
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He urged the union’s leadership to educate members about the programmes and achievements claimed by the federal and state governments to enable them to make informed political choices ahead of the elections.
Oborevwori also cautioned against what he described as unrealistic promises by opposition parties, urging the union to scrutinise political commitments and assess the feasibility of proposals presented to voters.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and improved welfare, expressing confidence that continued cooperation between the federal and state governments would support Delta’s development.
Other government officials present at the meeting included the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor; and the Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, Esq.
The endorsement represents the Delta State NURTW chapter’s declared political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the union pledging grassroots mobilisation and logistical support for the APC campaign.
The extent of the union’s planned mobilisation and its eventual impact on the election will depend on how its stated commitment translates into activities ahead of the polls.