OGONI people of Rivers State have disowned Friday’s gathering in Bori by some youths purporting to endorse candidates of the Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition and President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Political leaders who reacted after the gathering in the Ogoni traditional headquarters described it as a ‘sham’ inconsequential to expected outcomes of the coming elections in Ogoniland.

Leading the response, political management consultant and ADC chieftain, Sir Joe Korka-Waadah, dismissed the financial gratification that greeted the Bori rally as vote buying that would have no effect.

Korka-Waadah, Executive Director, Compassionate Heart Foundation, Canada, said, “That jamboree in Bori was nothing but voter inducement.

“If sharing money and cars to few Ogoni sellouts is Wike’s winning strategy, he should think twice and he and his coalition should get the message.

“Ogonis have gone past the age of inducement. That isn’t going to fly in 2026. Ogonis are not stupid. You drove through our land to Opobo to pick a governor whom you ruined out of office.

“The drama you and your coalition sponsored in Bori is not a reflection of what the Ogoni people want.”

Korka-Waadah, reacting to reports that youth representatives donated cash and a campaign vehicle support to Kingsley O.K. Chinda, APC Rivers guber candidate at the rally, said such gestures cannot sway Ogoni political direction.

He declared that Ogoni has taken a clear stand to bet firmly on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2027 general elections.

“Ogonis are resolved to deliver Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for president and vice, and Sir Dr. Gabriel Pidomson for governor of Rivers State and all ADC flagbearers.

“For the first time Ogonis are determined to vote ADC top to bottom in the forthcoming election. And there is nothing Wike and the APC can do about it.”

The Bori gathering had pledged loyalty to Wike and support for Tinubu, citing projects like the Bodo-Bonny Road and HYPREP interventions.

But Korka-Waadah insisted that position does not represent Ogoni.

He maintained that attempts to tie Ogoni political interests strictly to a single bloc or Wike-led coalition will be resisted, as alternative youth bodies like the Ogoni Youth Federation have also indicated.

The ADC chieftain said Ogoni’s resolve for 2027 remains firm and beyond inducement. (Sunday Vanguard)