WATCH: Peter Obi, Dickson Use Boat Regatta for NDC Campaign in Bayelsa

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader, have taken their political engagement to the riverine communities of Bayelsa State, where they participated in a traditional boat regatta in Toru-Orua, Dickson’s hometown.

The two politicians joined local boatmen and traditional warriors during the cultural display, which attracted attention as part of the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Politics Nigeria reports that the visit took place on Friday, as Obi continued his political engagements in Bayelsa alongside Dickson, a former governor of the state and current senator representing Bayelsa West.

Their appearance at the regatta brought a different dimension to the party’s mobilisation activities, taking the campaign beyond conventional political gatherings and into communities where waterways remain an important part of everyday life.

Toru-Orua, located in Sagbama Local Government Area, is particularly significant to Dickson, who hails from the community.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Obi to interact with residents and experience some aspects of the traditional culture of the Niger Delta.

One of the notable moments during the boat procession occurred when some of the young boatmen offered Obi the last available life jacket.

Dickson reportedly insisted that the presidential candidate should wear it, making reference to the expectations of millions of Nigerians.

The moment attracted attention during the cultural outing, particularly as the two politicians moved through the waterways with members of the community.

Following the regatta, Dickson hosted Obi and other guests at a community dinner, where he reportedly described the former Anambra State governor as a ‘gift from heaven’.

The former governor also expressed his commitment to supporting Obi’s presidential ambition as the NDC continues to position itself ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obi’s visit also extended to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, where he commissioned the NDC secretariat.

During his engagement with party members, the former Anambra governor called for a new approach to leadership, insisting that Nigeria requires purposeful governance to address poverty, insecurity and other challenges affecting citizens.

In a related development, Peter Obi’s participation in the Bayelsa boat regatta is not the first time the former Anambra State governor has been involved in a public engagement that required travelling through waterways.

On October 23, 2022, Obi visited victims of the devastating floods in Umueri community, Anambra State, where he undertook a boat ride with the President-General of the community, Chief Johnny Chukwudi Metchie, to assess the extent of the destruction.

The visit came during the 2022 nationwide flooding, which displaced thousands of residents and destroyed homes, roads, farmlands and other properties in several states.

Obi, who was then the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, visited the Umueri Unity Hall, where some displaced residents were taking refuge.

He was accompanied by some party chieftains, including Chief Tony Nwoye.

During the visit, the former governor travelled by boat with Metchie to inspect some of the affected areas and understand the difficulties facing residents.

Obi also donated food items and medicines to support the victims.

The President-General of Umueri community subsequently thanked the former governor for visiting the displaced residents and providing assistance at a difficult time.

Metchie said Obi had arrived when the victims needed encouragement and material support from political leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians.

He also used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government and international organisations to take more practical steps towards addressing the recurring flooding that affects communities across the country.

The community leader specifically raised concerns about the release of water from dams operated by Cameroonian authorities, which he identified as one of the factors contributing to flooding in parts of Nigeria.

His comments followed the destruction caused by the 2022 floods, which affected several communities in Anambra and other states.

Obi’s visit was part of a series of humanitarian engagements he undertook after temporarily suspending his presidential campaign activities to visit flood victims.

On October 19, 2022, the Labour Party candidate had also called on other presidential candidates to suspend their campaigns and support Nigerians affected by the disaster.

Speaking to journalists in Benue State, Obi explained why he had put his political activities on hold to visit displaced residents.

He said: “Nigeria is greater than all of us and we must work hard, irrespective of our political differences, to ensure that we build a better Nigeria for our children.”

He further appealed to other presidential candidates to show concern for the victims rather than continue with their political activities while thousands of Nigerians were struggling with the consequences of the disaster.

“I personally stopped and told my people ‘no more campaign’, until we are able to visit some of the sites, at least to sympathise with those who are going through problems,” he stated.

The October 2022 visit became a subject of public discussion again in April 2025 after photographs of Obi travelling in a canoe were shared by President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Olusegun Dada, during an online exchange involving Obi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The photographs were presented in a political comparison involving water transportation in Anambra and Lagos.

However, a fact-check published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) on April 29, 2025, established that the image of Obi in a canoe was taken during his October 2022 visit to flood victims in Umueri, eight years after he had left office as Anambra governor.

The report explained that the photograph was unrelated to the state of water transportation during his administration.

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