2027 𝗕𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗢𝗸𝗽𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂, 𝗢𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗶, 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆, 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗸𝗽𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

18𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 2026.

The Okpe Union Worldwide has issued a firm political directive ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that no candidate—including Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sheriff Oborevwori—will receive its support without clear commitment to the “14 Points Okpe Nation Agenda.”

In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by the President General, Prof. Igho Natufe, and National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Victor Oruno, and  released on Tuesday, the Union cautioned Okpe nationals against what it described as decades of “blind political loyalty,” insisting that such patterns have stalled the development of the Okpe Kingdom since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

“Blind support for political parties and candidates since 1999 has failed Okpe Nation in all indices of growth and development,” the Union declared.

𝗡𝗢 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔, 𝗡𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

The Union made it unequivocally clear that its endorsement in 2027 will be strictly conditional.

According to the statement signed by President General, Prof. Igho Natufe, and National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Victor Oruno, only candidates who align with and demonstrate commitment to the Okpe Nation’s 14-point development blueprint will earn the backing of the influential socio-cultural body.

“Okpe Union, like other responsible ethnic organizations, will only endorse candidates for elective offices who subscribe to the 14 Points Okpe Nation Agenda,” the statement read.

The Union urged Okpe people to abandon party sentiment and instead adopt a more critical, performance-based approach in evaluating candidates across all levels—presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly.

It warned of the recurring cycle of vote-buying through material inducements such as food items and wrappers, describing the coming election season as a test of political consciousness.

“This is the time for critically minded Okpe nationals to assess candidates not through party affiliations, but on the basis of individual competence and suitability.”

In a strategic push for political relevance, the Union also called on all eligible Okpe citizens to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), emphasizing that electoral participation is key to reclaiming the destiny of the Okpe Nation. "It is time to reclaim Okpe Nation for the growth and development of Okpe land.”

𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦: 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗚𝗘, 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Central to the Union’s demands is the preservation of Okpe identity, which it warned is under threat—particularly the gradual extinction of the Okpe language.

Among its key proposals are:

Mandatory teaching of Okpe language in schools across Okpe land

Restoration of Okpe-language broadcasts on state media

Establishment of postgraduate scholarship schemes

Allocation of 10% of oil-related revenues from Sapele and Okpe LGAs to an Okpe Scholarship Fund

Creation of a Board of Trustees to manage education funds

𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗞𝗣𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Development Blueprint for Okpe Nation

Beyond cultural preservation, the Union outlined an ambitious socio-economic roadmap, including:

Conversion of Sapele Technical College into a polytechnic

Stronger Okpe representation in state and national politics

Regular accountability meetings between elected officials and the people

Formation of an Okpe Leaders Forum

Women empowerment initiatives

Establishment of an Okpe Monitoring Board

Strategic international partnerships to attract foreign investment

The Okpe Nation Agenda, the Union noted, traces its roots to the 2006 Okpe World Conference held in Sapele and draws legitimacy from the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality by HRM Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.

The communiqué from that landmark gathering, endorsed by traditional authorities and global Okpe leadership, continues to serve as the ideological backbone of the Union’s political stance.

With this bold declaration, the Okpe Union has effectively positioned itself as a decisive political force ahead of 2027—one that will demand accountability, prioritize development, and reject empty political promises.