The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the national leader of the party, Seriake Dickson were spotted on Friday using a colourful boat regatta to campaign in Bayelsa State.
The event, which was held in Yenagoa, turned into a carnival as hundreds of boats decorated with party flags sailed across the creek, with supporters chanting Obi’s name.
Peter Obi, who arrived with Dickson, mounted one of the lead boats and waved to the crowd that gathered at the waterfront.
Speaking at the regatta, Obi said the NDC represents a new movement to rescue Nigeria, and that Bayelsa being a riverine state deserves special attention.
“We are not just campaigning, we are connecting with the people in their own environment. The people of Bayelsa live on water, so we must meet them on water,” Obi said.
On his part, Dickson said the boat regatta shows that the NDC has grassroots support in the Niger Delta.
“This is not Abuja politics. This is the real people, the Ijaw people, showing their strength. With boats, we will sail to victory,” Dickson said.
It was reports that the boat regatta is a traditional Ijaw cultural display.
Supporters of the NDC said the use of a boat regatta is strategic, as it shows respect for Bayelsa culture while pushing their political message.
Videos of the boat regatta have since gone viral on social media, with many Nigerians praising Obi for going into the creeks to campaign.
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