Umahi Questions Obi's Worth as South-East Looks to 2027

Former Governor of Ebonyi State and current Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the South-East lacks a presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. He dismissed the presidential ambition of Peter Obi from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, calling him a “nobody.” Umahi insisted that Obi is not better than notable South-East politicians, including himself, whom he labeled as the “Lion of the South-East.”

Umahi named other prominent figures from the region, such as former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Education Sam Egwu, and Chief Elias Mbam, the former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. He believes they are just as qualified as Obi.

He urged the South-East people to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. He argued that this would help the region gain political advantages when it is their turn to produce a President.

Umahi made these comments in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, during a town hall meeting organized by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. He called on religious and traditional leaders to openly support Tinubu instead of staying neutral.

While addressing the crowd, the minister said, “I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be Governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN, don’t keep quiet; let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom.”

He added, “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. Somebody was telling me that Atiku’s son bought buses and donated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and said this is a personal donation.”

Umahi emphasized that the Igbo people need to focus on wisdom, not sentiments. He warned them against allowing others to spread hate speeches on their behalf. He pointed out that today, their goods clear easily in commerce, the roads are being improved for economic activities, and they have been integrated into the national framework. He mentioned that in recent appointments, South-East leaders have been included in key positions.

He said, “My mouth will not shut up because I am telling our people for a reference for tomorrow. 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.”

Umahi criticized those who insult anyone not supporting Peter Obi, saying, “You insult anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur; you insult the person. 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? Who is better than?”

He concluded that the South-East does not have any presidential candidate. He said, “We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice. Traditional fathers, do not stay on the fence; religious leaders, do not stay on the fence. Our people in the North do not; our people in the South-West, they do not.”

Umahi, who is a former governor of Ebonyi State, claimed he would deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 elections. He stated he would not sit back and let another political party win the governorship of the state, calling those who think they can defeat Nwifuru jokers.

He said, “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.”