Minister of Works, David Umahi, has once again entered the increasingly heated 2027 political conversation in the South-East, declaring that the region must reject Peter Obi and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement that has already supplied social-media commentators with enough material for several political seasons, Umahi reportedly said, “You can only insult me but at my back, you can’t insult me face to face,” while insisting that his position is based on what he considers the interests of the region.
UMAHI DOUBLES DOWN ON TINUBU SUPPORT
Umahi’s position is not entirely new. In recent months, the minister has repeatedly argued that South-East voters should support President Tinubu, pointing to federal infrastructure projects in the region as evidence that the administration is paying greater attention to the area. He has also argued that South-East votes alone cannot determine who becomes President of Nigeria, urging the region to adopt what he calls a more strategic political approach.
The minister’s latest remarks therefore appear to be another chapter in his increasingly public campaign for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election. Umahi has maintained that he is not simply attacking Obi, but presenting what he considers facts about the records of both political camps. The political temperature, however, appears to rise every time the minister mentions Obi, with supporters on both sides turning the debate into something resembling a championship match without a referee.
THE “INSULT” BATTLE ENTERS ANOTHER ROUND
Umahi has previously acknowledged receiving criticism and insults from supporters of Obi over his support for Tinubu, saying that such reactions do not discourage him. He has even suggested that the criticism demonstrates that his message is reaching those who disagree with him.
Now, with the minister declaring that people may insult him behind his back but allegedly cannot do so face-to-face, Nigerian political watchers may be left wondering whether the 2027 campaign will be decided by manifestos, development records and votes—or by who can deliver the sharpest political comeback. For now, Umahi remains firmly in Tinubu’s corner, while Obi’s supporters continue to contest the minister’s political assessment.
The bigger story is that the South-East is becoming an increasingly important battleground ahead of 2027, with infrastructure, regional political loyalty and the contest between Tinubu and Obi all feeding into the debate. Whether Umahi’s message will translate into actual votes remains a question for the electorate, but one thing is already clear: the political conversation is nowhere near finished. Readers should watch out for further developments as OGM News NG continues to follow the unfolding battle over the South-East vote.
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