Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has called on the South-East to rally behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, stating that the region’s turn to produce Nigeria’s president will not come in the next electoral cycle.
In a statement released on Monday, Umahi emphasized that President Tinubu has demonstrated fairness to the South-East, particularly in infrastructure development. He urged residents of the region to recognize and appreciate these efforts by supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Umahi dismissed recent online reports claiming the Tinubu administration has neglected the South-East, labeling them as misleading and politically motivated. “Some individuals are attempting to misinform the public for selfish political gains,” he said. “But the truth is, this administration is working across all regions without bias.”
To reinforce this, Umahi disclosed that he has directed all regional directors in the Ministry of Works to revisit project sites and compile comprehensive reports on both ongoing and inherited infrastructure initiatives. According to him, this will highlight the scale and impact of projects under Tinubu’s leadership, regardless of regional voting patterns.
“President Tinubu is rebuilding national unity through balanced infrastructure distribution. Those willing to look closely will see the progress being made,” Umahi stated.
Addressing the calls for a South-East presidency in 2027, Umahi advised the Igbo people to focus on fostering strategic alliances with other regions instead of pushing for an immediate power shift.
“We must not allow ourselves to be misled again,” he said. “For us to have a serious shot at the presidency, we need to show overwhelming support for Mr. President now. Let’s aim for 90% of the South-East vote for Tinubu in 2027.”
He cautioned against political hostility and divisive rhetoric, advocating instead for unity and cooperation. “If we truly want to lead the country, we must abandon politics driven by hate and sentiment,” he said. “Support other regions, and in time, they will support us.”
Umahi reiterated his belief that President Tinubu deserves to complete his constitutionally allowed eight-year tenure. “Our time will come but it is not in 2027,” he affirmed.
He also commended the governors of the South-East for their developmental strides and encouraged them to maintain close collaboration with the federal government for continued progress.
Umahi’s comments come as political momentum builds toward 2027, particularly with former Anambra governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, already declaring his intent to run again.
