2027: Gambo Backs Tompolo, Asari Over Obi As Running Mate
By Mohammed Ibrahim
Alhaji Hussein Gambo- Nakura, National President of the Rice and Beans Association in Adamawa state, Northeast Nigeria, has urged political stakeholders to consider prominent South-South figures such as Government Ekpemupolo, and Asari Dokubo as stronger vice-presidential options for the 2027 general elections than former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Speaking to newsmen on the current political development in the country, Gambo said ongoing discussions about a possible alliance between Rabiu Kwankwaso and Obi overlook influential southern personalities capable of delivering electoral success.
According to him, greater attention should be paid to individuals in the Niger Delta who, he argued, have demonstrated leadership capacity and contributed to national stability.
Gambo commended Tompolo’s role in pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta, a contract awarded during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He claimed that the arrangement has largely ensured stability in the oil-producing region, with minimal reported incidents.
He further referenced the political tensions in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike, which preceded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state, noting that the South-South had otherwise remained relatively calm.
Drawing comparisons between the South-South and South-East regions, Gambo alleged that the South-South has maintained relative peace under the influence of leaders like Tompolo and Asari Dokubo.
He contrasted this with the recurring Monday sit-at-home orders enforced by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in parts of the South-East, arguing that such security concerns weaken Obi’s standing as a potential running mate.
He dismissed arguments that Obi’s national popularity or electoral performance in 2023 automatically positions him ahead of other contenders.
Gambo suggested that voting patterns in the last election were influenced in part by religious sentiment rather than solely by governance considerations.
Citing the political trajectory of former President Goodluck Jonathan from local government chairman to president, Gambo maintained that national prominence is not always a prerequisite for leadership at the highest level.
While clarifying that he is not opposed to Obi’s participation in any future political arrangement, Gambo described his remarks as a comparative assessment.
He also pledged support from his Adamawa State base and members of the Rice and Beans Association should Tompolo choose to enter partisan politics.
As of press time, neither Tompolo nor Asari Dokubo has publicly declared any intention to contest in the 2027 elections.
His remarks underscore intensifying early conversations around ticket balancing, regional representation, and security considerations ahead of the next general election cycle.
