Former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, declaring that the South-East has no credible candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Umahi, who described Obi as ‘nobody’, argued that several prominent politicians from the region were as qualified as the former Anambra State governor.
Speaking at an All Progressives Congress (APC) town hall meeting in Abakaliki, Umahi urged South-East residents, traditional rulers and religious leaders to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He argued that backing Tinubu for another four-year term would strengthen the region’s political bargaining power when it eventually seeks to produce a president.
The minister listed former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Education Sam Egwu and former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, among politicians he considered no less qualified than Obi.
He also referred to himself as the ‘Lion of the South-East’ while questioning what made Obi superior to other political leaders from the region.
Umahi maintained that the South-East had benefited from greater political inclusion under Tinubu, citing appointments into key government positions and the rehabilitation of major roads.
He urged the Christian Association of Nigeria and other religious leaders not to remain neutral in the political debate, warning against allowing sentiments and hate speech to determine the region’s political choices.
The former governor also pledged to deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru in 2027.
He said the state had 1.8 million registered voters and described failure to secure 1.3 million votes for both leaders as a disservice to Ebonyi.
Umahi further vowed not to allow another political party to produce the next governor of the state, dismissing those hoping to defeat Nwifuru as jokers.