Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East, alongside key party stakeholders, have formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, pledging to mobilise bloc votes across the region in the 2027 general election.
The endorsement was announced at the South-East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting, tagged “Izu Umunna,” held at the Presidential Hotel in Enugu. Present at the meeting were Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru; as well as party leaders, lawmakers and elders from the zone.
According to a statement from the Enugu State Government, the leaders resolved to align more closely with the ruling party at the centre, describing the decision as a move away from fragmented politics toward a more pragmatic, interest-driven approach.
The stakeholders warned against what they described as the balkanisation of South-East votes by personal ambitions, noting that such divisions had historically weakened the region’s influence in national politics.
Speaking at the meeting, Governor Uzodimma said the South-East could no longer afford political isolation, stressing that President Tinubu had demonstrated confidence in the region ahead of 2027.
“Politics is pay as you earn. No zone can produce a president alone. If we continue to vote provincially, we will remain on the sidelines of national power,” Uzodimma said.
He recalled that the region’s poor performance in the 2023 presidential election, where it reportedly delivered about six per cent of votes to the APC, significantly reduced its bargaining power at the centre compared to other zones.
Uzodimma also highlighted the APC’s growing political footprint in the South-East, noting that the party now controls three of the five states in the region, has increased its Senate seats from six to eight, and expanded its representation in the House of Representatives from eight to 23.
“These figures give us hope, but they also pose a challenge. Leadership growth must translate into votes at the polls in 2027,” he said.
Governor Mbah described the endorsement as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism,” adding that the decision was driven by tangible benefits accruing to the region through alignment with the Federal Government.
He cited federal projects such as the revival of the Eastern Railway corridor, gas and energy initiatives, and the concession of the Enugu Airport, which he said would reposition the state as an international gateway to the South-East.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a slogan. It is about aligning vision at the centre with delivery at the state level,” Mbah said.
Governor Nwifuru expressed optimism that all South-East governors would be members of the APC by 2027, urging party leaders to embrace reconciliation and effectively manage the influx of new members.
The motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term was moved by former Senate President Pius Anyim and seconded by another former Senate President, Ken Nnamani. Nnamani warned that persistent complaints of marginalisation would continue unless the region adopted a more strategic political posture.
“If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must stand under a shelter,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, a communiqué jointly signed by governors and party stakeholders unanimously declared Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The leaders pledged to deploy human, material and political resources to secure bloc votes for the President across the five South-East states.
Other notable figures at the meeting included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ikedi Ohakim; senators, lawmakers and party elders from the region.
However, the endorsement drew criticism from some quarters. A former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Rivers State, Apostle Eugene Ogu, described the move as “shameful,” citing the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
According to Ogu, South-East leaders had previously appealed to President Tinubu for Kanu’s release without success, accusing them of misleading the public.
He argued that until the region enjoys a stronger sense of belonging in the federal structure, Tinubu would struggle for acceptance in the South-East in the next election. Ogu also questioned the APC’s popularity in the region, claiming defections to the party were driven largely by political survival rather than genuine support.
Meanwhile, the APC Christians’ Wing in Adamawa State dismissed claims that the party is dominated by Muslims, insisting that Tinubu’s re-election bid transcends religious considerations.
The group’s spokesman, Joseph Mwadyile, said the creation of the Christian youth wing was aimed at promoting unity, inclusion and active participation of Christian youths in party affairs.
He maintained that the APC remains a national party built on inclusiveness and equal opportunity, adding that greater involvement of Christian youths would boost grassroots mobilisation and electoral success ahead of 2027.
