Minister of Works David Umahi has urged the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that backing the incumbent could strengthen the region’s prospects of producing a future president.
Umahi said the region should support Tinubu for another four-year term, adding that political cooperation with other regions would be important when it becomes the South-East’s turn to produce the president.
He spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting organised by Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-East.
The meeting brought together political leaders, National Assembly members, traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, civil society groups and captains of industry.
Umahi urged religious and traditional leaders to openly support Tinubu, warning against remaining neutral ahead of the 2027 election.
“We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finish his remaining four years so that the South-East would have strategically supported another region. So that when it is our turn, they will support us,” he said.
The minister dismissed the possibility of a presidential candidate emerging from the South-East in 2027, referring to Peter Obi, whom he described as “nobody”.
Umahi also questioned claims that Obi was more qualified than prominent South-East political figures, including former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and former Governor Sam Egwu.
He said the region should prioritise political strategy over sentiments, citing what he described as increased federal appointments and economic integration under Tinubu.
Umahi also pledged to mobilise 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 election.
“Let me tell you, if we are not donating 1.3m votes for the President, for the Governor, we are doing ourselves disservice,” he said.
Earlier, Nweze urged South-East residents to support the All Progressives Congress and Tinubu, citing infrastructure projects, the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, student loans, youth empowerment programmes and federal appointments.
She said the administration’s road projects were improving access to hospitals and markets, particularly for women and farmers.
“I’m amazed that every road, every place is being opened up. This will give our women the opportunity of getting to hospital without giving birth on the road. It will make our farmers able to bring their food to town to sell,” she said.
Nweze described the administration’s interventions as evidence of greater inclusion of the South-East in federal affairs, urging residents to support Tinubu in the next general election.
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