Umahi say Obi no be South-East best as Igbo group back Obi for 2027

Two messages on South-East and 2027 presidency land this week, and dem point different directions.

Minister of Works David Umahi say Peter Obi no be di best presidential material di region fit offer, for interview with Arise News on Friday. He argue say Obi no consult governors and other political leaders for South-East before e run in 2023.

"Peter Obi no be di best of our finest in South East. He no be di best, he can never be di best," Umahi talk, according to Punch and Vanguard.

Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State, talk say anybody wey hope to carry di region expectations suppose first sit with dia stakeholders. "You no fit play politics for South East without consulting people like us," he talk.

He also push back on di idea say Anambra State suppose automatically produce di president whenever South-East get di chance. He note say Nigeria first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, come from di area wey now be Anambra, and talk say Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo suppose also dey considered.

Umahi defend South-East leaders wey back President Bola Tinubu, talk say dia choice no suppose dey treated as betrayal of di region. For im view, di road to presidency dey pass through alliances with other parts of Nigeria.

Igbo group endorse Obi and Kwankwaso

Two days earlier, di Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD) endorse Obi, di candidate of di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and im running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for di January 16, 2027 election.

Di group national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, announce di decision at press conference for Abuja on Wednesday. He talk say e follow consultations with Igbo unions, market associations, women and youth groups, and civil society organisations at home and abroad.

"We come to di unanimous resolution say e go dey in di best interest of Nigeria to elect Mr. Peter Obi of di Nigeria Democratic Congress as di President of Nigeria come January 16, 2027," Okorie talk.

He talk say di group weigh di candidates records in public office, dia concern for Nigerians and how dem manage public resources. He describe Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor, as asset to di ticket.

Di IAD also dismiss di backing of Tinubu by Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Okorie talk say di group no go dey distracted by individual officeholders, and challenge Soludo to show im electoral weight for Anambra.

He urge Igbo voters make dem no stay house on election day, and talk say di group go mobilise through community networks, phones and direct contact, including for Lagos and diaspora.

Okorie also call for peaceful campaigns and warn against ethnic rhetoric, point to history: di NCNC alliance with di NPC after independence, and di election of Alhaji Umaru Altine, a Fulani politician, as Enugu first mayor.

Wetin go happen next

Both camps agree say South-East suppose produce president; dem differ on who and how. With di election set for January 16, 2027, expect more endorsements, and more arguments over whether consultation or popular support suppose decide di region candidate.