An appraisal of the permutations leading to the 2027 presidential election reveals a disturbing dimension, as all but one governor in the South east region openly declare their willingness to support incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against their own brother, Peter Obi, who happens to be a popular and acceptable candidate in most states of the country
By Edu Abade
It obviously looks like the case of a man’s enemy being members of his household as revealed in scriptures recorded in Micah chapter 7 verse 6. Perhaps only Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has not betrayed any signs of discomfort with Peter Obi’s presidential ambition by not yet openly endorsing the incumbent President for the 2027 presidential race.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who last defected in the region from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been circumspect in his way of handling things ahead of the 2027 polls.
But Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, although still pitches his tent with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that brought him to power, he remains Tinubu’s most ardent supporter yet. For reasons best known to him, Soludo, who remains a member of APGA by day and APC by night, ostensibly leads the pack of Igbo governors and politicians, who are averse to Peter Obi’s presidential aspiration.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma also ranks among those supporting President Tinubu against Peter Obi, while Minister of works, Dave Umahi has not hidden his preference for the incumbent president, just as another politician from the region, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has at various fora declared his stance for Tinubu against Obi.
Why is it that Peter Obi’s kinsmen are the ones pushing against his presidential aspiration when he enjoys robust support from other zones of the country? The answer could only be found in what political pundits refer to as permanent interest. These politicians of Igbo extraction also have ambitions for higher office, but in doing so, they may have forgotten that the presidency rotates between the North and South and that it goes back to the North in 2031 in the event that President Tinubu secures a second term. And that leaves them with only a chance at either the Vice President or the President of the Senate and ministerial slots. So why don’t they support one of their own who, is learnt has agreed to serve only one tenure of four years?
These are the questions agitating the minds of most Nigerians, who have accused Soludo, Uzodimma, Umahi, Kalu and their ilk of playing the spoiler for their kinsman
Soludo, who hails from the same home state of Anambra with Obi recently openly canvassed support for Tinubu in 2027, saying the South East people must not waste their votes again, forgetting that the ultimate verdict lies with the people, who will vote come 2027.
He had urged the people of the South-East to rally behind President Tinubu, charging them to abandon what he described as the “alliance of protest” and embrace an “alliance for progress and prosperity.”
Soludo made the appeal during a rally organized in support of President Tinubu’s second-term bid by the Ebonyi State Government.
The governor, who attended the event alongside Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru and other political leaders, said the time had come for progressives across the country to unite in support of the president and his administration.
In a statement after the event, Soludo said the South-East must avoid repeating past political choices that, according to him, failed to advance the region’s interests.
“Yesterday, I joined the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, alongside other progressives in Abakaliki to stand with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu he wrote on his X handle, formerly Twitter.
“The time has come for us to unite. Enough of the politics of lamentations. Ndi Igbo, we must move from the alliance of protest to the alliance for progress-an alliance for prosperity. We must unite. We must not waste our votes again.”
While speaking at the rally, Soludo described Governor Nwifuru as “my own brother” and expressed solidarity with the Ebonyi governor over the endorsement of President Tinubu.
“I am here on a solidarity march with my own brother, the Governor of Ebonyi State, who, by the grace of God, is governor until 2031. I am here with you because today, you are endorsing the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”
The Anambra governor said progressives across the country must work together to strengthen national unity and support policies aimed at promoting development, adding, “I have come because progressives are working together. It is time for progressives to unite.”
On his part, Dave Umahi, who is a staunch and vocal supporter of President Tinubu, had frequently declared that his loyalty belongs only to God and the President. Umahi actively champions Tinubu’s 2027 re-election and has called on the entire South-East region to rally behind the administration.
Umahi, who is immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State and serves as Minister of Works under the current administration has publicly stated that he takes instructions only from President Tinubu and has called it reprehensible to betray the trust the President has reposed in him.
Umahi insists that all South-East governors support Tinubu regardless of party affiliations, citing the President’s commitment to infrastructure development and equitable federal presence.
He is spearheading a movement to adopt Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate for the South-East in 2027. He has actively urged communities to support the President to ensure the uninterrupted completion of major regional infrastructure projects, such as the Nine
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State recently, Umahi said the endorsement was in recognition of what he described as the President’s commitment to infrastructure development and inclusiveness in the South-East region.
During the inspection, the minister highlighted several federal infrastructure projects being executed in Ebonyi State and across the South-East, saying they reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to the development of the region.
Speaking at sections of the Calabar-Abuja highway project, Umahi also explained the significance of a flyover currently under construction along the Trans-Saharan Super Highway corridor.
“Let me say that this is the point where the Trans-Saharan Route takes a bend. The essence of this flyover is to resolve the conflict at this point,” he said.
He added that the Federal Government had made budgetary provisions for the construction of a road linking the corridor to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, adding, “The road going to the capital city, which is 18 kilometres from this point, is included in the 2026 budget, and the Federal Government will undertake the connection to the city centre.”
Umahi also assured contractors handling federal road projects that outstanding payments would be settled, despite current funding constraints.
“Of course, the contractor has not been paid, but we are creditworthy. All contractors being owed will be paid. There should be no stoppage of work because we want to see if we can commission this project by December. The cost is ₦25 billion,” he said.
The minister described the ongoing projects as evidence of the Federal Government’s efforts to address infrastructure deficits in the South-East.
“This is just the beginning. You will see remarkable projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-East. When we talk about the gains of the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some people who do not understand what we are talking about will continue to criticize us,” he said.
Umahi maintained that residents of the region had acknowledged the administration’s interventions and were prepared to express their support for the President.
Commenting on the region’s political alignment ahead of the next general election, the minister specifically said Ebonyi State would not support the Obidient movement associated with Peter Obi.
“Let it be known that Ebonyi State is not obedient because we want to catch up with the rest of the country, and we will never be obedient. What happened before was an accident of history. It will not repeat itself,” he said.
Their Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma is another fiery supporter of the incumbent president as he had recently led the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Retreat during which he commended Tinubu’s tough economic choices-including the removal of the fuel subsidy on the first day of his assuming office and exchange rate unification-stating that they have blocked government leakages and revived national financial stability.
In what political pundits refer to as a regional bargaining power for Imo State and the Southeast, Uzodimma frequently urges stakeholders to support the president, arguing that maintaining a strong connection to the federal government is essential for the region’s development and political bargaining power.
Following his staunch support for the president, Uzodimma, who is Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, inaugurated the Ondo State chapter of the group and charged members to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He said Tinubu deserved a second term based on what he described as ongoing developmental projects since 2023, including road construction, student loan schemes, and hospital rehabilitation across the country.
The governor, represented at the event by the Southwest Coordinator of the group and Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dayo Adeyeye, said the administration had recorded notable progress in key sectors of the economy.
“The ongoing expansion of road infrastructure across the country is improving connectivity, boosting economic activity, and easing longstanding transportation challenges,” Uzodimma said, pointing to the student loan scheme as a major achievement.
“The introduction of student loan schemes is widening access to higher education and reducing financial barriers for Nigerian youths, thereby creating more opportunities for academic advancement and skills development,” he added.
Uzodimma also urged newly appointed local government ambassadors to intensify grassroots mobilisation and ensure coordinated support for the President’s second-term ambition.
Another glaring enemy of Peter Obi’s presidential quest is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who has never hidden his support for President Tinubu and his administration. The former Abia State Governor actively endorses Tinubu’s economic reforms and has strongly committed to rallying political support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, particularly in the South-East zone.
On the endorsement of Tinubu for reelection in 2027, Kalu has made it clear that he was solidly behind President Tinubu for a second term, stressing that the President needs eight years to achieve long-term economic stability. He even actively promoted “Tinubu 2027” campaign attire at the National Assembly.
He also flaunted Tinubu’s economic reforms as defense. Kalu consistently defends Tinubu’s tough economic decisions-such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate-urging Nigerians to be patient and noting that the measures are necessary for the country’s long-term prosperity.
As a prominent political figure in the South-East, Kalu has been actively championing the call for the region to align with the central government, stating that it is crucial for the area’s political and economic interests.
Kalu has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts in expanding the Nigerian economy, which he believes is performing at macroeconomics level.
He stated this while receiving a souvenir from Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State during his visit to the state, where he commissioned 10 road projects constructed by Ahmed Aliyu-led administration in Arkilla New Layout.
In statement issued by the Director General, Media and Publicity Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, the Senator explained that when the economy appears strong at the top, it benefits have yet to adequately reach ordinary Nigerians, a situation he attributed partly to the prevailing security challenges across the country.
Kalu, who stated that proper investment in security remains the panacea for a better economy, expressed the hope that with the right investment in security, all Nigerians would enjoy the gains of the economy.
He also advocated for the need for stringent measures to address the nation’s security challenges in order to achieve suitable growth.
So why are these Igbo politicians afraid of a Peter Obi presidency? Why is Obi their biggest problem in Nigeria’s political calculations?
A political commentator, Barrister Michael Iniwewho Okuweh, told Tentacle, “For one thing, the political actors of the day fear that an Obi presidency might cause a major upset in the economic and political space. They are afraid that if Obi becomes the President of Nigeria, they would lose their wealth as the former Governor of Anambra State has been known to be a prudent manager of resources.
“They fear that when he becomes the number one citizen of this country, he will likely reduce the cost of governance in all arms of government, block leakages and bring about a responsible and accountable system. The average Nigerian politician is afraid of changes that would threaten their economic interests and displace them from the ‘boom’ and sleaze they currently enjoy across board.
“They are also averse to a system that would call them to account for how they ran the country the way they did and the beneficiaries of the status quo ante are not ready to bulge and that is the major cause of the resistance and trepidation, especially from the politicians of Igbo extraction, who in spite of being minimal beneficiaries of the current dispensation, would not allow any threats to their fortunes, not now and in the future.”
