PANDEF Stays Neutral on 2027 Presidential Race, Pushes Oil Revenue Demands

The Pan Niger Delta Forum has announced it will remain independent from all political parties and presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. Ambassador Godknows Igali, the organisation's National Chairman, made the statement after a gathering of PANDEF's leadership board, which included former governors, former ministers, and traditional rulers from the South-South region.

The forum specifically clarified that it has not aligned itself with President Bola Tinubu's administration or the ruling All Progressives Congress. PANDEF's non-alignment position comes as the organisation pursues a separate agenda focused on the Niger Delta's economic interests.

The forum has demanded that the federal government increase the share of oil revenue allocated to producing states, raising the current floor of 13 percent to 50 percent. PANDEF also wants lawmakers to scrap the distinction between onshore and offshore oil operations in how revenue is distributed, arguing that coastal communities suffer similar environmental and livelihood damage from offshore drilling as interior regions experience from onshore production.

The organisation's decision to remain neutral follows a pattern of PANDEF functioning as a regional advocacy group rather than a political faction. By declining to endorse a presidential candidate, PANDEF is directing voters in the South-South to evaluate candidates based on their capacity to deliver on Niger Delta development priorities rather than party affiliation.

Former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah appeared alongside Igali during the media briefing where these positions were outlined. PANDEF's dual approach of political neutrality combined with concrete fiscal demands reflects the region's historical tensions over resource allocation.

The 13 percent derivation formula has been in place for decades, with oil-producing states arguing it remains inadequate compensation for environmental degradation and foregone development. The abolition of the onshore/offshore distinction represents a technical adjustment to the revenue system that PANDEF views as essential to fairness across all oil-producing coastal and interior communities.