ASABA, DELTA STATE | OCTOBER 31, 2026
Thousands of students from tertiary institutions across Delta North Senatorial District converged on the Cenotaph in Asaba on Saturday for a major political mobilisation tagged Delta North Students for APC, declaring support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the All Progressives Congress candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The gathering, powered by the FELD Foundation, brought together students, political leaders, elected representatives and party stakeholders from across the nine local government areas of Delta North.
But beyond the political declarations, the event’s defining moment was a multimillion-naira student empowerment initiative announced by the Foundation’s Chairman, Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu, for 90 students drawn from tertiary institutions across the senatorial district.
The initiative provided a major educational and social development dimension to an event that also served as a platform for political engagement ahead of the next general elections.
MILLIONS IN STUDENT EMPOWERMENT
The announcement of the empowerment intervention for 90 students was one of the most significant highlights of the gathering.
Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu, who also chairs the Governing Board of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, announced the initiative on behalf of the Foundation.
The intervention reflects an effort to extend support to students at a time when the rising financial demands of higher education remain a major concern for many households.
For the beneficiaries, the programme represents an opportunity for additional support in their educational journey.
The student body also presented awards to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu.
The recognition formed another major highlight of the event, with the students acknowledging the personalities honoured.
DELTA’S APC LEADERSHIP TURNS OUT
The political significance of the gathering was reflected in the presence of senior APC leaders and virtually the entire slate of the party’s Delta North candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Among those in attendance were Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme; immediate past Governor of Delta State and APC Delta North Senatorial Candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and APC candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; and Hon. Osamuta.
Others included APC State Chairman, Mr. Solomon Arenyeka; State Vice Chairman, Elder Moses Iduh; and Delta North APC Chairman, Hon. Dan Ossai.
The party’s candidates for the federal constituencies were also represented, including:
Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu — Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi — Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
Hon. Emmanuel Osazuwa — Ika Federal Constituency.
APC candidates for the various Delta North State House of Assembly constituencies, alongside local government party chairmen and other political stakeholders, were also present.
POLITICAL LEADERS ADDRESS THE STUDENTS
The Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; Hon. Osamuta and other prominent political figures addressed the gathering.
Their participation brought together different levels of the party’s political leadership on a platform largely dominated by young people.
The central message of the programme was political engagement and support for the APC leadership at the federal and state levels, as well as the party’s candidates in Delta North.
For the party, the gathering offered an opportunity to interact with a significant section of the student population ahead of 2027.
PAUL ADINGWUPU AND THE FELD FOUNDATION INITIATIVE
Much of the attention at the Cenotaph centred on Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu, whose role in organising the programme attracted commendations from participants and speakers.
As Chairman of the FELD Foundation and Governing Board Chairman of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Adingwupu brought together an extensive student constituency under a common platform.
The Foundation’s empowerment announcement for 90 students gave the gathering a practical development component beyond the political speeches and endorsements.
The awards presented by the student body to Adingwupu, Governor Oborevwori and Senator Okowa further highlighted the recognition segment of the programme.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: STUDENTS AND THE 2027 POLITICAL EQUATION
Saturday’s gathering provides another indication of the growing attention political stakeholders are paying to student organisations and youth participation as the 2027 general elections approach.
However, the relationship between political mobilisation and student development raises a larger question.
Beyond endorsements and political declarations, what sustainable commitments can political leaders make towards affordable education, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, technical skills and greater youth participation in governance?
The FELD Foundation’s intervention for 90 students provides one tangible element of that conversation.
Whether similar initiatives can be sustained and expanded beyond the election season will remain an important measure of their long-term value.
For now, the Cenotaph gathering has brought Delta North students and the APC political establishment together on a platform combining political engagement, recognition and student empowerment.