Oil, Gas communities urge Tinubu to seek second term, promise 10m votes

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

A coalition of oil- and gas-producing communities across the country have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek a second term in 2027, saying it would mobilise at least 10 million votes in support of his re-election bid.

The position was made known on Friday in Abuja during a press briefing by the Communities of Oil and Gas in Nigeria (COGIN), an advocacy group representing host communities in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Director-General of the group, Benjamin Style Tamaranebi, said the organisation was created to provide a unified platform for oil- and gas-producing communities while advocating policies that promote development, economic opportunities and stability in host regions.

Tamaranebi said the group decided to publicly call on the president to seek re-election in 2027, arguing that continuity in leadership would help sustain ongoing reforms and programmes affecting host communities in the oil and gas sector.

He disclosed that the organisation had begun consultations and strategic engagements with stakeholders across oil- and gas-producing communities nationwide.

According to him, the group’s network across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would be mobilised to support the president if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election.
“We assure him that we are mobilising 10 million votes for his re-election bid,” Tamaranebi said.
He added that the group believes sustaining current policies and reforms would require continuity in leadership.

“There is no need to change a winning team,” he said, noting that oil and gas host communities remain committed to supporting policies that promote peace, development and economic inclusion.

Tamaranebi said COGIN was established as an advocacy platform for communities producing oil and gas across the country, with a focus on promoting development and strengthening engagement with government and industry stakeholders.

He added that the organisation would work with communities and other stakeholders to ensure that policies affecting oil-producing areas translate into tangible development outcomes.