Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has stated that the South-East zone will not produce Nigeria’s president in the 2027 general elections. Umahi emphasized that President Bola Tinubu must be supported to complete his tenure, and the region should focus on building strategic alliances with other zones rather than pushing for the presidency.
Umahi’s Statements Spark Mixed Reactions
Umahi’s comments come amid increasing calls for a South-East presidency in 2027, with Labour Party’s 2023 candidate, Peter Obi, already declaring his intention to run again. While Umahi hinted at running for the presidency in 2027, he made it clear that it’s not the turn of the South-East.
Infrastructure Development in South-East
Umahi highlighted President Tinubu’s efforts in infrastructure development, citing several projects in the South-East, including:
- Port Harcourt-Aba road (86 km)
- Aba-Umuahia road (56 km)
- Umuahia-Lokpanta road (6 km)
- Lokpanta-Enugu road (61 km)
- Enugu dualization to Abakaliki (N183 billion)
- Trans-Sahara road from Ebonyi to Benue boundary (N456 billion)
Umahi’s Plea to South-East Leaders
Umahi urged the Igbo people to focus on building strategic alliances with other regions rather than pushing for the presidency in 2027. He emphasized that supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid would cement the relationship between the South-East and the federal government.
