The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has called on the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to mobilise the Ijaw Nation and people of the Niger Delta in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection for a second term in office come the 2027 general elections, urging stakeholders to resist attempts to create divisions ahead of the elections.

The PAP Administrator made the call when the newly inaugurated 10th leadership of the IYC, led by its President, Dr. Doubra Okotete, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja at the weekend.

According to a press release signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, on Monday, August 24, 2026, Otuaro stressed the need for unity among Ijaw and Niger Delta stakeholders as political activities towards the 2027 elections gather momentum, especially as securing a second term for President Tinubu is in the strategic interest of the Ijaw people and the wider Niger Delta region.

"My appeal to the IYC is that nothing should divide us, 2027 is already here. Let us back the President and mobilize for him to win a second term," Otuaro said, adding that, "We should not allow anybody to cause division among us or trade us for a new hope. It is within the Ijaw strategic national interest to support the President to secure victory."

The PAP boss also commended the IYC and other stakeholders across the Niger Delta for what he described as their massive support and cooperation with the Amnesty Programme's ongoing peacebuilding initiatives and reforms, noting that the partnership between the PAP, youth bodies and other stakeholders has contributed to sustaining peace and stability in the region while creating greater educational opportunities for Niger Delta youths.

"Many well-meaning stakeholders of the Niger Delta, including the IYC, are in support of the direction we have taken. Their support and cooperation have been massive and encouraging, working together with the Office to sustain peace and stability, and the generations we are preparing for a greater tomorrow in the Niger Delta through huge scholarship opportunities," he stated.

Otuaro said the reforms introduced by his administration had significantly expanded the PAP scholarship scheme, with 8,700 beneficiaries currently studying in Nigerian institutions and more than 270 deployed to universities abroad.

He further disclosed that 93 beneficiaries were deployed to offshore institutions in January and May, while another 150 beneficiaries are being dispatched between August and September 2026.

According to him, President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, are pleased with the efforts of the PAP leadership in consolidating sustainable peace in the Niger Delta and expanding educational opportunities for beneficiaries.

Otuaro, however, alleged that a few "selfish elements" remained uncomfortable with the reforms and progress recorded by his administration, particularly the expansion of the scholarship scheme and increased deployment of beneficiaries to universities within and outside Nigeria.

He thanked the IYC leadership for the visit and reminded stakeholders that sustaining peace, security and stability in the Niger Delta is a collective responsibility requiring cooperation among all interests in the region.

Earlier, IYC President Dr. Doubra Okotete said the visit was in recognition of what the Council described as the "unprecedented success in the education and empowerment of Niger Delta youths" recorded by the PAP under Otuaro.

Okotete commended the PAP Administrator for his commitment and what he described as the judicious application of resources towards providing quality education and empowerment opportunities for thousands of Niger Delta youths.

He also expressed the readiness of the IYC leadership to work closely with Otuaro and explore areas of greater partnership between the youth body and the Presidential Amnesty Programme in advancing peace, development and human capital growth across the Niger Delta.