As political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Tinubu Mandate Group (TMG), Delta State Chapter, has called on the founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, to join the senatorial race for Delta Central.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Friday, December 12, 2025, following a stakeholders’ review meeting of the group. TMG said the 2026 pre-election year would be crucial for political consultation, leadership recruitment, and strategic positioning across the district, adding that credible individuals must be encouraged to step forward early.
The group explained that its latest position is informed by its long-standing political relationship with Emerhor, recalling the role played by its convener, Chief Ejiro Nomuoja, in mobilizing grassroots structures for Emerhor during the 2013 Delta Central senatorial bye-election.
According to the statement, Nomuoja and his team “coordinated extensive community engagements, strengthened ward-level networks and expanded media visibility,” efforts which the group said have significantly laid the foundation for this call. TMG added that the experience built from that election forms part of the confidence with which it is now urging Emerhor to contest in 2027.
The group described Emerhor as one of the most experienced technocrats within the APC in Delta State, citing his academic background as a First Class graduate of Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his later executive training at IMD Switzerland, the Lagos Business School, and other global institutions.
It further highlighted his long banking career, which included roles at Citibank, Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Crystal Bank, before his emergence in 1995 as the youngest Managing Director/CEO in Nigeria’s banking sector. TMG also referenced his leadership in the transformation of Comet Merchant Bank into First Atlantic Bank, and later his service as Vice-Chairman of FinBank.
Beyond his corporate engagements, the group noted Emerhor’s philanthropy through the Fair Life Africa Foundation, which has worked in areas such as child reunification, educational sponsorship and welfare support for vulnerable families. It described these interventions as evidence of his connection with grassroots communities.
TMG also commented on zoning considerations within Delta Central, saying the current dominance of the Okpe axis in both the governorship and senatorial positions does not reflect equitable political distribution. It argued that the Ughelli axis, where Emerhor hails from, should be given the opportunity to produce the next senator in the interest of balance.
The group further recalled Emerhor’s historical contributions to the APC, including his emergence as the party’s first governorship candidate in Delta State in 2015 and his continued support for party structures and candidates during the 2023 general elections.
According to the statement, Delta Central requires “experienced and stable representation” in the National Assembly as the state works to align local interests with national developmental priorities. It added that Emerhor fits this role based on his background and long involvement in the APC.
While reaffirming its commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and expressing support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s development efforts, the group maintained that sending a competent candidate to the Senate remains vital to the district’s political and economic aspirations.
TMG, therefore, called on political stakeholders, community leaders and party members to support its appeal for Emerhor to enter the 2027 senatorial race, saying the district must field “its most prepared and credible candidate.”
