Ex-militant leader and Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanekpe Israel, also known as Akpodoro, has criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai over his comments regarding the 2027 general elections. Akpodoro stated that the people of the South-South geopolitical zone are wiser now and will not align with the North against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Akpodoro made this declaration on Monday in Abuja while hosting leaders of thought from the Niger Delta region. His remarks were in response to el-Rufai’s reported call for the North to align with the South-South to take over power from the incumbent administration in 2027.
The ex-militant leader, speaking on behalf of Niger Delta ex-militants and the South-South region, dismissed el-Rufai’s proposal as unrealistic. He accused the former governor of overreaching himself, stating that el-Rufai lacks the followership in the North or the South-South to unseat President Tinubu.
Akpodoro recalled the 2015 elections, where the South-South allegedly aligned with the North to unseat then-President Goodluck Jonathan, and insisted that such a move would not be repeated. He described the idea as “foolishness” and emphasized that the people of the South-South have learned from past mistakes.
The Mayor also challenged el-Rufai to highlight his legacies in Kaduna State, accusing him of leaving behind “sorrows, pains, and blood” after eight years as governor. He praised President Tinubu for addressing insecurity in Southern Kaduna and freeing the region from the grip of bandits.
Akpodoro further accused el-Rufai of ruling Kaduna State with an iron fist, a style of governance he claimed nearly cost the APC victory in the state. He asserted that Northerners are now wiser and recognize that leaders like el-Rufai prioritize their personal interests over the welfare of the masses.
The ex-militant leader’s comments underscore the growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections and the determination of the South-South region to support President Tinubu’s administration.
