The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, on Friday took their political campaign to the waterways of Bayelsa State, using a colourful boat regatta to engage supporters.

The campaign event, held in Yenagoa, witnessed the participation of hundreds of boats adorned with NDC flags, as supporters sailed through the creeks, chanting Obi’s name and displaying solidarity with the party.

Obi, who arrived at the event alongside Dickson, boarded one of the leading boats and waved to supporters gathered along the waterfront as the flotilla moved across the waterways.

Speaking during the event, Obi described the NDC as a new movement committed to rescuing Nigeria, noting that Bayelsa’s riverine nature required political leaders to adopt approaches that connect directly with its people.

“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,” he said.

Dickson, on his part, said the regatta reflected the party’s grassroots connection in the Niger Delta, particularly among the Ijaw people.

“This is not Abuja politics. This is the real people, the Ijaw people, showing their strength. With boats, we will sail to victory,” he stated.

The boat regatta, a traditional cultural display among the Ijaw people, provided an avenue for the party to combine its political mobilisation with the celebration of Bayelsa’s cultural heritage.

NDC supporters said the decision to campaign through the waterways was deliberate, describing it as a demonstration of respect for the culture and lifestyle of the people.

Videos from the event have since gained traction on social media, with several Nigerians reacting to the unusual campaign approach adopted by Obi and Dickson.