UMAHI DECLARES SOUTH-EAST HAS NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, DISMISSES PETER OBI’S 2027 AMBITION
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By: Muftau Fatimo
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 the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, 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, Elias Mbam, as prominent figures whose political credentials should not be overlooked.
The minister made the remarks on Sunday during a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
He urged religious and traditional leaders in the South-East to openly support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid rather than remain neutral.
According to Umahi, the region should support Tinubu to complete his remaining four-year tenure, arguing that such a move would strengthen the South-East’s political position when it eventually seeks to produce a president.
He maintained that the Igbo people needed strategic political decisions rather than sentiments, adding that the region had benefited from increased representation in the Tinubu administration.
Umahi also cited improvements in road infrastructure, trade activities and appointments to key government positions as evidence of what he described as the South-East’s growing inclusion in the Federal Government.
Questioning the criticism directed at political leaders who do not support Obi, he said:
“Who is Peter Obi better than? Who is he better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of the South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius?”
He added, “So, I don’t want us to be deceiving ourselves. 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.”
The former governor further urged traditional rulers and religious leaders to guide their followers on the political direction of the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
Umahi also pledged to mobilise 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, in the 2027 general elections.
He said Ebonyi had about 1.8 million registered voters and described the proposed 1.3 million votes for both leaders as a target the state should work towards.
The minister also vowed not to allow another political party to take over the Ebonyi governorship, describing those who believed they could defeat Nwifuru as jokers.
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