Umahi Dismisses Peter Obi, Says South-East Has No Presidential Candidate For 2027

According to a report by The Punch on Sunday, November 1, 2026, former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the South-East has no presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, brushing aside the ambition of Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking in Abakaliki, the state capital, at a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Umahi described Obi as “nobody.”

He questioned why the former Anambra State governor should be seen as better than other leading figures from the region, including himself, whom he called the “Lion of the South-East.”

He named former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Education Sam Egwu, and ex-RMAFC Chairman Elias Mbam as people he believes are no less qualified than Obi.

Umahi urged South-East residents to back President Bola Tinubu, arguing that supporting another region now would position the zone to benefit when its turn to produce a president comes.

According to him, the Igbo need wisdom, not sentiment, and should not allow hate speeches on social media to speak for them.

He pointed to what he called the region’s inclusion under the current administration, citing the appointment of the Chief of Air Staff, the Minister of Works, other ministers and special assistants. He also said commerce and road projects in the zone are improving.

The minister further called on religious and traditional leaders, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to openly declare support for Tinubu instead of staying on the fence.

On Ebonyi politics, Umahi said he would deliver 1.3 million of the state’s 1.8 million registered votes to Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru, and described those who believe they can defeat the governor as jokers.

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