Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, Senator David Umahi, has confidently announced that all five governors in the South-East region, irrespective of their political affiliations, are united in supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027. Umahi further revealed plans to convene a summit of South-East leaders to formally endorse Tinubu’s candidacy, emphasizing ongoing federal infrastructure projects as proof of the region’s growing partnership with the presidency.
Speaking at various forums in May and June 2025, Umahi highlighted the unprecedented level of cooperation between the Tinubu administration and South-East governors, describing it as a new era of federal attention and development. “Today, the South East has a Minister of Works for the first time, and we’re seeing real projects Port Harcourt to Enugu, Enugu to Abakaliki, Enugu to Onitsha, Onitsha to Owerri, and the Second Niger Bridge. The President has already paid 30 percent of the cost of that bridge,” Umahi said.
He stressed that this collaboration transcends party lines and urged opposition figures, notably former presidential candidate Peter Obi, to join the collective effort for the region’s progress. “Leadership is not about self it’s about the people. If someone else is already doing what you would have done for your people, support him. I call on my brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to join us and work with Mr. President,” he said.
Umahi’s assertion of unity was echoed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, which endorsed him as the Igbo National Political Leader and pledged to deliver the South-East votes to Tinubu. In a statement, Ohanaeze praised Umahi’s 21-month tenure as Minister of Works, citing transformative infrastructure projects reshaping the region’s economy and political relevance. The group contrasted Umahi’s leadership favorably against other Igbo politicians, including Peter Obi and Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Key federal projects cited by Umahi include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with over 80 percent completion of Section 1 from Ahmadu Bello Way to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, and plans for the Ogun-Ondo-Niger Corridor. These initiatives are positioned as catalysts for unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and enhancing regional integration.
Despite these declarations, Umahi has faced criticism from some quarters within the South-East. A diaspora group representing Ebonyi indigenes dismissed his claim to deliver the region’s votes as “unfounded and ego-driven,” accusing him of lacking political relevance and failing to address core regional issues such as marginalization and security. The group also pointed to incomplete infrastructure projects and ongoing socio-political grievances, including the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, as evidence that the region’s challenges remain unresolved.
Nonetheless, Umahi remains steadfast in his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election campaign, framing it as a pathway to continued development and national unity. He reiterated that the planned summit of South-East leaders would formalize their endorsement and strengthen the region’s integration into the national political and economic framework.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, Umahi’s role as a regional power broker and advocate for Tinubu in the South-East will be closely watched, with the outcome likely to influence the political dynamics of the region and the nation at large.