Barely days after the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, formally declared his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election, leaders, elders and critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East have moved decisively to counter any challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid from the region.
At a historic gathering tagged Izu Umunne, held on Saturday at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, the South-East APC leadership unanimously endorsed President Tinubu as the zone’s sole and undisputed presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The meeting brought together prominent political figures, party leaders, governors and stakeholders from across the region, signalling what participants described as a strategic repositioning of the South-East within Nigeria’s national political equation.
The endorsement came against the backdrop of Mr Obi’s recent political realignment. Obi had announced his move to the ADC during a “special event” in Enugu organised by stakeholders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). At that event, Obi pledged to use the ADC platform to pursue his long-held presidential ambition and to “rescue Nigeria from bad leadership”.
However, the APC leaders in the South-East said their decision was informed by sober reflection on the region’s political history, current national realities and the need to avoid a repeat of what they described as counterproductive fragmentation of Igbo votes.
The motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term was formally moved by former Senate President, Chief Pius Anyim, and seconded by another former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani. Both leaders described the decision as courageous, strategic and firmly rooted in the long-term interests of Ndi Igbo.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the South-East APC leaders declared their “unalloyed, total and unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our sole and undisputed presidential candidate for the 2027 general election”.
They further vowed that the zone would no longer allow its votes to be scattered across multiple political parties in ways that weaken its collective bargaining power at the centre.
The meeting was notably well attended, with the three APC governors from the region — Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and the host Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State — present alongside former governors, serving and former lawmakers, party chieftains, traditional leaders and business figures.
According to the communique, the leaders engaged in “thorough deliberations on national developments, regional challenges and the strategic place of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria’s political future”. They stressed that the South-East could no longer afford to be divided by personal ambitions or sectional political calculations.
The leaders categorically dissociated the South-East from what they described as “activities motivated by the self-serving interests of any individual, however highly placed”. They warned that such actions undermine collective unity and the region’s ability to negotiate effectively at the national level.
“The progress of our zone and our great party cannot be achieved through narrow personal ambitions or actions that fracture collective unity,” the communique stated. “Any such conduct shall henceforth be regarded as contrary to our shared aspirations and will receive neither endorsement nor support from our zone.”
The APC leaders emphasised that the South-East had resolved, in its supreme interest, that personal ego and politically motivated actions would no longer determine the fate of the region. Instead, they said the zone would align with the ruling party as a strategic pathway to securing improved representation, federal appointments, infrastructure and development.
According to the leaders, the APC has emerged as the most practical political platform for the South-East at this stage of Nigeria’s democratic evolution. They noted that political, traditional and business leaders, as well as the broader population, were increasingly recognising the benefits of aligning with the ruling party.
“This decision is anchored on the transformative policies of the APC-led federal government, the opportunities opened to our region, and the imperative of strategic alignment with the ruling party to secure our fair share of national resources, infrastructure, appointments and development,” the communique read.
The leaders called on all sons and daughters of Igboland, both within the five South-Eastern states, across Nigeria and in the Diaspora, to fully embrace the APC as the most effective vehicle for realising the political, economic and social aspirations of the region.
While acknowledging that the South-East is currently governed by three different political parties across its five states, the APC leaders warned against the continued scattering of votes among multiple parties, a trend they said has historically diminished the region’s influence at the federal level.
They insisted that every vote cast by Ndi Igbo in 2027, both within and outside the region, should be for President Tinubu, regardless of individual ambitions from the zone.
The communique also expressed satisfaction with President Tinubu’s performance since assuming office, commending what the leaders described as “significant strides” in governance, particularly in efforts to address long-standing infrastructural deficits in the South-East.
They further noted the appointment of sons and daughters of the region to key national positions and praised the president’s commitment to inclusive governance and national cohesion.
“President Tinubu’s leadership, defined by competence, results and national cohesion, has earned our deepest respect,” the leaders said. “We are convinced that his continued stewardship holds the brightest prospects for accelerated development of our region and the nation as a whole.”
The South-East APC leaders also reaffirmed their allegiance to the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, commending him and other governors for what they described as visionary leadership and consistent defence of Igbo interests at a critical moment.
They pledged complete loyalty to all five governors in the region as they advance together in support of President Tinubu.
In a show of resolve, the leaders committed themselves to mobilising all available human, material and spiritual resources to deliver what they described as “massive bloc votes” for President Tinubu across the five South-Eastern states in 2027.
To this end, they resolved to intensify voter education campaigns, registration drives, party structure strengthening and unity-building initiatives aimed at securing an unprecedented electoral outcome for the APC in the region.
Specific responsibilities were also assigned, with Governors Mbah and Nwifuru mandated to oversee mobilisation and supervision of APC activities in Anambra State, while Governor Uzodimma continues to oversee Imo State.
In his address, Governor Peter Mbah described the endorsement of President Tinubu as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism”. He said the South-East had moved from merely standing at the crossroads of history to actively shaping its political future.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State expressed optimism that by 2027, all governors in the South-East would be members of the APC. He urged party leaders to prioritise reconciliation and sacrifice, noting that the influx of new members required effective internal management rather than further fragmentation.
The meeting ended with a collective call on Ndi Igbo to rally behind the APC and President Tinubu in what the leaders described as a “sacred assignment” to build a future of prosperity in a Nigeria that works for all.
