Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association cites government support as it pledges statewide mobilisation ahead of 2027 elections
The Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) in Delta State has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was adopted following a motion moved by the association’s State Treasurer, Comrade Prince Miller, and seconded by the State Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Afatakpa.
The association, which claims to have more than 25,000 members across Delta State, announced its position during a solidarity visit to the Delta State Government House in Asaba on Friday.
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Speaking on behalf of the delegation, COMTOA leader, Chief Godday Obi Nzete, said the endorsement was in appreciation of what he described as the support and recognition the association had received from the Tinubu and Oborevwori administrations.
Nzete said commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators had experienced greater recognition and accommodation under the Oborevwori administration.
“We want to appreciate them for their good work and for the support they have given us as an association in this state,” he said.
He explained that the solidarity visit was intended to reciprocate the government’s support, adding that several members had experienced improvements in their livelihoods under the present administration.
Nzete further disclosed that the number of members who attended the visit represented only a fraction of the association’s estimated 25,000 membership strength.
He, however, pledged that COMTOA would organise a statewide mobilisation exercise to demonstrate its support for the governor, President Tinubu and other APC candidates.
“We are ready to set aside a day to mobilise our members across the entire state in support of Sheriff and all APC candidates, from the presidency down,” he said.
SSG Urges Operators to Mobilise Support for APC
Responding, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, urged members of the association to intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Emu encouraged the operators to leverage their extensive presence across communities and their daily interactions with passengers to communicate the party’s message.
“The job has just started. Go back to your units and continue preaching the good news,” the SSG said.
He also disclosed that the Delta State Government had recruited and equipped 1,000 forest guards to tackle criminal activities and flush out criminals from forests across the state.
According to him, the initiative is designed to strengthen security, improve public safety and enable farmers to return to their farms without fear.
Transport Commissioner Highlights Subsidised Tickets
The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Onoriode Agofure, commended COMTOA for its support and highlighted measures taken by the Oborevwori administration to ease the financial burden on commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators.
Agofure said the state government had subsidised daily tickets for riders, making the charges among the cheapest in the country.
He described the initiative as part of the administration’s efforts to support transport operators and improve their working conditions.
Protocol Director Cites Roads, Peace and Security
The State Director of Protocol, Chief Sunday Onoriode, described the solidarity visit as a demonstration of the association’s support for the Oborevwori administration and an indication of the APC’s grassroots engagement.
He said the governor had made contributions to the development of Delta State since assuming office, stressing that peace and security remained essential to commercial transport operators whose livelihoods depend on daily movement across communities.
Onoriode also commended the administration’s attention to road infrastructure and the welfare of transport operators, describing the relative stability within the association as encouraging.
APC Organising Secretary Calls for Support for Tinubu
Also speaking, the APC State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor, commended President Tinubu for his economic policies, which he said had increased the funds available to state and local governments for development projects.
Egbabor urged COMTOA members to support the APC and its candidates, arguing that increased resources available to governments could strengthen their capacity to address the needs of citizens.
He called on the operators to sustain engagement across their units and communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Government Officials, APC Stakeholders Attend
Those present during the solidarity visit included the Chief of Staff, Government House, Prince Johnson Erijo; Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Onoriode Agofure; Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu; and Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.
Others were the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon; Director-General of the State Orientation Bureau, Mr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe; and other government officials and APC stakeholders.
The endorsement adds COMTOA to the groups publicly declaring support for Tinubu, Oborevwori and APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. The association says it intends to follow its declaration with a broader mobilisation exercise involving members across Delta State.
