Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday said he would continue to encourage people of the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 rather than back the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Umahi made the remarks in Abuja while responding to presentations by members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who had undertaken inspection tours of ongoing federal infrastructure projects in the North-West geopolitical zone.
The minister said he believed supporting President Tinubu was in the interest of the South-East and called on leaders of the region to educate their people on what he described as the benefits of the administration’s policies and projects.
“I will continue to tell Igbos not to vote for Peter Obi, but to vote for President Bola Tinubu. That it is the right decision to make,” Umahi said.
He added that every Igbo person had the right to support the President and should not be criticised or attacked for exercising that political choice.
According to him, political leaders seeking support from the people should be judged based on their records and contributions to the development of the South-East.
“Let people come and say, this is what we have done for the people of South-East. Let us put this side by side. We want to be President. Let us know what we have done for the people of South-East,” he stated.
Umahi also challenged political actors to subject their records in public office to public scrutiny, arguing that Nigerians should have the opportunity to assess the achievements of those seeking elective positions.
The former Ebonyi State governor maintained that the Tinubu administration had made significant progress in addressing key challenges facing the South-East, particularly in the area of infrastructure development and federal appointments.
He cited ongoing federal road and infrastructure projects in the region as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the South-East and urged community and political leaders to enlighten the people on the projects and their expected benefits.
The minister’s comments come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with major political actors intensifying consultations and mobilisation efforts across the country.
