Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, along with Enugu’s Peter Mbah and Ebonyi’s Francis Nwifuru, and All Progressives Congress stakeholders in the South-East, have officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election, committing to rally bloc votes throughout the region for the upcoming 2027 general election.
The endorsement occurred during the South-East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting, named “Izu Umunna,” which was hosted at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu.
Governors, party leaders, lawmakers, and elders from the region agreed to fully support the ruling party nationally, calling the decision a move towards practical, interest-focused politics.
A statement from the media office of the Enugu State governor indicated that the leaders pledged to oppose what they termed the fragmentation of the region’s votes due to personal ambitions, cautioning that such behavior has traditionally diminished the South-East’s negotiating strength on the national stage.
Imo Governor Uzodinma, who chairs the South-East Governors’ Forum, stated that the region can no longer bear political isolation.
He emphasized that Tinubu had shown trust in the South-East looking toward 2027.
“Politics is pay as you earn,” Uzodinma said. “No zone can produce a president alone. If we continue to vote provincially, we will remain on the sidelines of national power,” Uzodinma said.
He remembered that the zone’s dismal performance in the 2023 presidential election, with just about 6% of votes going to the APC, considerably reduced its power at the center, particularly when compared to other areas, which received between 34 and 54% of votes.
Uzodinma emphasized the APC’s expanding influence in the region, pointing out that the party now controls three of the five South-East states, has expanded its Senate representation from six to eight, and has raised its House of Representatives seats from eight to 23.
“These numbers give us hope, but they also give us a challenge. The growth among leaders must be reflected at the ballot box in 2027,” he added.
Enugu State Governor Mbah termed the endorsement as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism,” emphasizing that the decision was motivated by tangible benefits to the region from aligning with the federal government.
Mbah noted federal interventions such as the resurrection of the Eastern Railway route, gas and energy development projects, and the concession of Enugu Airport, which he claimed will position the state as an international gateway to the Southeast.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a political slogan,” Mbah said. “It is about aligning vision at the center with delivery in the states.”
Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi, expressed optimism that all South-East governors will join the APC by 2027, urging party leaders to embrace peace while successfully managing the influx of new members.
Former Senate President Pius Anyim presented the motion to support Tinubu for a second term, which was seconded by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who cautioned that if the area did not engage in strategic politics, accusations of marginalization would continue.
“If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must stand under a shelter,” Nnamani said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a statement endorsed by governors and stakeholders unanimously proclaimed Tinubu as the APC’s only presidential candidate for 2027, dismissing what they termed as ego-fueled and divisive politics.
Leaders committed to utilizing human, material, and political resources to secure bloc votes for Tinubu in all five South-East states.
Other notable attendees at the gathering were Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ikedi Ohakim; and senators, lawmakers, and party leaders from the region.
The endorsement, nonetheless, drew criticism from certain groups.
Apostle Eugene Ogu, a past chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Rivers State, called the endorsement “shameful.”
Ogu criticized South-East leaders for supporting Tinubu while Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is still imprisoned.
“These same elders went to President Tinubu and pleaded for Kanu’s release. The President rejected their plea. It therefore implies that they have been hoodwinking the people of the Southeast on their promise that Kanu will be released. This is a grand deception,” Ogu said.
He also stated that until the region is given a sense of belonging in the federal government, “President Tinubu will not have any face in the region in the next election. In the entire Southeast, there are no good roads, no light, and no federal government presence.”
Ogu issued a warning that attempts to deride other legitimate Igbo leaders, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, would attract political consequences. He also expressed doubts about APC’s popularity in the region, claiming, “APC is suddenly losing popularity in the South-East and Nigeria generally.
“APC will soon be deserted by Nigerians. Those defecting to the party are doing so just to protect their political future. I can assure you today that before the next election, APC will almost become empty.”
He challenged the federal government to enact electoral reforms and give INEC a truly independent mandate, saying, “When this is done, let us see how the APC will fare with Nigerians given the current economic hardship and insecurity in the country.”
