Minister of Works David Umahi has declared that the South-East has no viable presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, dismissing Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi as “nobody” and urging the region to back President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Umahi made the remarks on Sunday during a town hall meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
“Let us stop deceiving ourselves. We do not have a presidential candidate in the South-East for 2027. We only have aspirants, and Ebonyi has the right to make its own choice,” he said.
The former Ebonyi governor questioned Obi’s credentials relative to other prominent South-East figures. “Who is Peter Obi 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? Who is he better than?” Umahi asked, referring to former Education Minister Senator Sam Egwu, former Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission chairman Chief Elias Mbam, and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.
He argued that supporting Tinubu for a second term would strategically position the South-East to gain backing from other regions when the presidency eventually rotates to the zone. An Igbo president, he said, would need more than one term after decades of waiting.
“There is no way an Igbo man, after staying for 60 years, will want to be President for four years. There is nobody that can accept that. The North has not accepted to be President for four years,” Umahi stated. “Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments.”He claimed the region has seen greater inclusion under the Tinubu administration, citing appointments such as the Chief of Air Staff, the Minister of Works, other ministers, and senior special assistants.
Umahi also noted improved ease of doing business and ongoing road projects.The minister appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), not to remain neutral.
“Traditional fathers, do not stay on the fence; religious leaders, do not stay on the fence… Guide our people, let them know that.”On the state level, Umahi pledged to deliver at least 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru out of Ebonyi’s approximately 1.8 million registered voters. He dismissed those hoping to unseat Nwifuru as “jokers,” saying he would not allow another party to take the governorship.
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