Youths from Otuan in the diaspora have endorsed Hon. Tokpo Coronation Edward as their preferred candidate for the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (SILGA) Constituency 1 seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The endorsement was made during a solidarity rally held on April 30, 2026, by members of the Ogboin Clan.
At the gathering, participants expressed unified support for Coronation to emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag-bearer in the 2027 state assembly elections. The group described him as a qualified and capable candidate who represents the aspirations of Constituency 1.
The Otuan Youths in Diaspora stated that Coronation possesses the experience and leadership qualities necessary to represent the constituency effectively. They emphasized that his candidacy reflects a broader demand for inclusivity and equitable political representation within the area.
During the rally, the group also made an appeal to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the leadership of the APC. They urged party stakeholders to consider the interests of Ward 5 in Southern Ijaw LGA when selecting a candidate for the upcoming election.
According to the group, Ward 5, particularly the Otuan community, has not been given the opportunity to produce a representative for Constituency 1 since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999. They described this as a longstanding imbalance that should be addressed in the interest of fairness.
They noted that SILGA Constituency 1 is made up of only three communities, yet political representation has consistently rotated outside Otuan. The youths argued that despite their continued support for elected representatives over the years, their community has remained excluded from holding the assembly seat.
The group specifically pointed out that the Amassoma community has produced members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly continuously since 1999. They stated that this has been achieved with the backing of Otuan residents, who have supported successive representatives from the neighboring community.
They therefore called on the Amassoma community to reciprocate what they described as years of goodwill and political support. According to them, allowing an Otuan candidate to emerge would demonstrate unity and strengthen ties among the communities within the constituency.
“It is time for Otuan Ward 5 to represent SILGA Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,” the group declared during the event. They stressed that granting Otuan the opportunity to produce the next assembly member would promote equity, fairness, and justice.
The endorsement of Hon. Tokpo Coronation was presented as part of a broader effort to correct what the group views as political marginalization. They urged APC leaders and stakeholders in the constituency to prioritize inclusiveness in their decision-making process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Otuan Youths in Diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting candidates who reflect the interests of their community. They also called for continued dialogue among political actors to ensure a more balanced representation across the constituency.
The statement was signed by Comrade Enemotimi Jombo, President of the Otuan Youths in Diaspora, and Comrade Chiefson Ebikabo-Owei Tengi, the group’s Organizing Secretary.
