By  Michael Tidi

“Man is by nature a political animal.” — Aristotle, Politics, Book I, Chapter 2 (1253a).

Politics is the art of building alliances, managing competing interests and mobilising people towards a common purpose. Electoral victories may belong to candidates, but the labour that makes them possible is often collective. In Delta State, the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV), under the national leadership of Hon. Prince Evang. Michael Diden, popularly known as Ejele, has been part of this political tradition. Today, the organisation stands at another defining moment, armed with experience, established relationships and a renewed determination to advance its mission.

As a foundation member, I recognise the contributions of the leaders and members whose commitment has shaped DPV’s journey. Its participation in the political developments surrounding Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’s emergence as governor in 2015, his re-election in 2019 and the emergence of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori in 2023 reflects the wider importance of political coalitions in Delta State. Such milestones are rarely the achievement of individuals alone; they are the product of organisation, persuasion and collective resolve.

DPV’s strength lies in this combination of leadership, relationships and mobilisation. The capacity to bring people together, sustain political alliances and coordinate action remains an important asset in a changing political environment. Under Ejele’s leadership, and with the contributions of the other leaders and committed members, the organisation has a foundation from which to pursue its present objectives with confidence. Its strength is not merely in its numbers, but in the collective purpose that gives those numbers political meaning.

The biblical account of David and his mighty men offers a timeless illustration of this principle (2 Samuel 23:8–39). Leadership finds its fullest expression when individual abilities converge around a shared cause. For DPV, the combined commitment of its leadership and membership is a source of strength as it prepares for the demands of a new political season.

The organisation’s transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) marks another chapter in its political evolution. George Santayana’s observation in The Life of Reason (1905), that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” offers a useful reflection on this journey. DPV carries into its present alignment the experience of previous political engagements and the relationships cultivated over time. That experience provides a foundation for continuity of purpose amid changing political circumstances.

The Asaba meeting of September 30, 2026, provided an opportunity to reaffirm this direction and consolidate the organisation’s readiness for the tasks ahead. With structures across Delta State and ambitions beyond it, DPV approaches this new phase with a network of relationships and a membership committed to its declared objectives.

At the centre of its present mission is its support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. DPV has made its position clear, and its challenge now is to translate that commitment into effective mobilisation and credible political engagement. The organisation’s experience and grassroots presence offer a platform for communicating the policies and verifiable achievements of the administrations it supports.

At the national level, this means promoting informed understanding of President Tinubu’s policies and their intended objectives. In Delta State, it means communicating the initiatives and demonstrable achievements of Governor Oborevwori’s administration. Such advocacy is most effective when it connects government programmes to the concerns of citizens and is supported by accurate information.

Edmund Burke, in his Speech to the Electors of Bristol (1774), observed: “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment.” The principle remains relevant to political participation: influence carries responsibility, and public confidence is strengthened when political commitment is accompanied by responsible leadership and a genuine concern for the common good.

DPV’s rallying cries—“DELTA POLITICAL VANGUARD, TINUBU FOR PRESIDENT!” and “DELTA POLITICAL VANGUARD, SHERIFF NA AWA OWN!”—capture the spirit of its declared mission. They express a collective determination whose significance will be demonstrated through organised mobilisation, sustained engagement and respect for democratic choice.

DPV enters this new phase with the benefit of experience, the strength of its relationships and the collective resolve of its leadership and membership. Its history provides perspective; its present alignment defines its immediate political direction; and its mobilisation capacity offers a platform for the work ahead.

Political relevance is never permanently secured. It must be renewed through commitment, organisation and the ability to respond to changing circumstances. With its leadership and members united behind a common purpose, DPV is poised to pursue its mandate with confidence and determination, carrying its political experience into the next chapter of its history.

.Tidi is a foundation member of the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) and writes from Warri.