Minister of Works David Umahi Tells South-East: Don’t Vote Peter Obi, Back Tinubu in 2027

Minister of Works David Umahi has fired another major political salvo ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, urging voters in the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu rather than his former political colleague, Peter Obi. Umahi argued that South-East votes alone cannot produce Obi as president and said the region must be “strategic” in deciding where to place its political support.

Umahi made the remarks in Okigwe, Imo State, while inspecting the 65-kilometre Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe federal road project. He linked his appeal to what he described as significant infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration, urging the South-East to reward the president through its votes in 2027.

David Umahi Puts Tinubu Ahead of His Old Political Colleague

David Umahi acknowledged his relationship with Peter Obi, describing him as a friend and fellow former governor. But the minister made his political position unmistakable: he urged South-East voters not to vote for Obi and instead support Tinubu, arguing that the president deserves appreciation for projects being undertaken across the region.

The minister’s argument adds another chapter to what has become an increasingly lively 2027 political conversation in the South-East. Umahi has repeatedly called for strategic voting, and earlier this year he argued that the region should give Tinubu as much as 80 percent of its votes, pointing to federal infrastructure projects as evidence of the administration’s commitment to the zone.

In the satirical version of Nigerian political mathematics, Umahi’s message is essentially: regional popularity is nice, but the presidential ballot is a nationwide examination. Obi may have a powerful base in the South-East, but Umahi insists that winning the presidency requires much more than dominating one geopolitical zone.

Umahi Says Infrastructure Should Influence the Ballot

David Umahi has increasingly tied his support for Tinubu’s 2027 bid to federal infrastructure projects in the South-East. During his latest inspection, he highlighted the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe road and the planned removal of a major mountain section that officials say has historically contributed to fatal accidents along the route.

The minister has also argued that projects such as the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and other federal roads demonstrate that the South-East is benefiting from the current administration. In April, Umahi said the zone should support Tinubu strategically and warned against splitting its votes, while pointing to infrastructure as part of his case against claims of continued regional marginalisation.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi’s political camp has a very different calculation. Reporting on the emerging 2027 contest notes that Obi’s alliance with Rabiu Kwankwaso is being presented by supporters as a ticket capable of combining strong Southern support with significant Northern political influence.

Umahi’s latest declaration shows that the 2027 presidential contest is already becoming a battle over strategy, regional loyalty and the meaning of political performance. David Umahi wants the South-East to reward Tinubu with its votes, while Obi’s supporters are seeking a broader national coalition. With the election still ahead, the question is no longer simply who can win the South-East—but who can turn regional support into a nationwide winning coalition. Watch this space, because the political calculations are only beginning. OGM NewsNG will continue to update you on any development.