The Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has declared that the South-East has no presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, dismissing the presidential ambition of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.
Umahi described Obi as “nobody”, questioning his political standing compared with other prominent South-East politicians, including himself, whom he referred to as the “Lion of the South-East”.
He also mentioned former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former Minister of Education, Sam Egwu; and former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam, insisting that Obi was not superior to any of them.
The minister urged the people of the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that such support would strengthen the region’s political position and improve its chances of producing a future president.
Umahi made the remarks in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, during a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
He also called on religious and traditional leaders in the region, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to openly declare their support for Tinubu rather than remain politically neutral.
According to Umahi, the South-East must prioritise political strategy over sentiments and hate speeches, adding that the region had benefited from greater political inclusion under the Tinubu administration.
He cited the appointment of prominent South-East indigenes into key government positions, including his own appointment as Minister of Works, as evidence that the region was being integrated into the federal government.
The minister further argued that supporting Tinubu for another four years would demonstrate political loyalty and strengthen the South-East’s bargaining power when the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s president arises.
“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, we will not get this thing by hate speeches; they will not give to us by sentiments,” he said.
Umahi also criticised those who allegedly attack South-East leaders for refusing to support Peter Obi, questioning why the former Anambra governor should be considered more qualified than other prominent political figures from the region.
“We don’t have any presidential candidate in the South-East. We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice,” he stated.
On the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi State, Umahi expressed confidence in the re-election prospects of Governor Francis Nwifuru, declaring that he would not allow another political party to take control of the state.
He described those who believed they could defeat Nwifuru as jokers, while pledging to mobilise massive support for both Tinubu and the governor in the next general elections.
Umahi disclosed that Ebonyi State had approximately 1.8 million registered voters, expressing his determination to deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Nwifuru.
“We have 1.8 million registered voters in Ebonyi State. Let me tell you, if we are not donating 1.3 million votes for the President, for the Governor, we are doing ourselves a disservice,” he said.
