…As President visits Abia on Friday
In a surprise twist to the permutations for the 2027 presidential race, a factional apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as fillers coming from the East say that the group will on Friday endorse President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election for second term in office.
This is to the astonishment of pundits, who had envisaged the group would stand with one of their own,the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, whom the late Engr Iwuanyanwu’s Ohanaeze endorsed in 2023.
In a clarion call for the endorsement of Tinubu for the next presidential election, the group in a statement signed by its Deputy President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and the National Spokesperson, Chief Thompson Ohia, on Monday, said the incumbent president is their choice.
According to the statement, the formal declaration is scheduled to take place on Friday, 23 May 2025, coinciding with President Tinubu’s visit to Abia State, a stronghold of the opposition Labour Party, LP.
The statement reads: “This historic consensus has been meticulously cultivated through extensive consultations with a diverse array of key stakeholders, including South-East governors, revered traditional rulers, esteemed religious leaders, and representatives from various youth and women’s groups, as well as civil society organisations across our region.
“The collective decision reached by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South-East stakeholders marks a departure from historical precedence and signifies a resolute intent to align with the mainstream national leadership under President Tinubu. It heralds the official end of the South-East’s longstanding affiliation with opposition parties such as the PDP, APGA, and LP, a decisive step towards a reorientation, concluding an era of opposition from 2015 to 2025 and transitioning into collaboration with the APC.
“In this spirit of unity and progress, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South-East stakeholders have appointed Senator David Umahi, the distinguished Minister of Works and former Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, to serve as the lead coordinator for President Tinubu’s campaign across the South-East. Senator Umahi’s proven leadership and unwavering commitment to development make him the ideal candidate for this crucial role. Ohanaeze expresses full confidence in his ability to mobilise support, foster cooperation, and deliver a resounding victory for President Tinubu in the upcoming election.
“Furthermore, we emphasise that any coalition of opposition politicians currently lacks the capacity to challenge a sitting president of the calibre and competence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With firm conviction, we declare that the South-East will no longer be shackled to ineffective opposition, particularly under the leadership of Mr Peter Obi, whose tenure has failed to fulfil the promises made to our people.
“On that landmark day, 23 May 2025, during President Tinubu’s scheduled visit, we expect the collective presence of all South-East governors irrespective of their political affiliations representing the APC, PDP, LP, and APGA. This unprecedented gathering will not only cement our endorsement of President Tinubu as the Southeast’s sole candidate but also symbolise a historic transition from a decade of unproductive opposition to one of constructive national integration.
“We urge all stakeholders and citizens of the South-East to wholeheartedly embrace this transformative journey, uniting our voices and actions to ensure that Ndigbo continue to play a central role in Nigeria’s national discourse. This is more than a political endorsement; it is a clarion call for renewed commitment, resilience, and aspiration to uplift our region and the nation at large”.
The group also charged Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to adopt Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election during his state visit to the state.
Ohanaeze also urged South East citizens to align with the political leadership of the Minister of Works, David Umahi as President Bola Tinubu embarks on his official visit to Abia State on May 23, 2025, to inaugurate the Port Harcourt Road project in Aba.
The body commended Gov. Otti for his remarkable achievements in the completion of the Port Harcourt Road project, an endeavour that has languished in neglect for over 15 years.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday by the factional Deputy President-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, the national spokesperson, Ohanaeze stated that it is indeed a testament to his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development and progress of Abia State.
It said the president’s state visit presents an invaluable opportunity for Gov. Otti to align Abia State with President Tinubu’s overarching vision and policies at the national level, adding that such alignment promises to usher in greater prosperity not only for Abia State but for the entire Igbo Nation.
The statement reads: “ln the light of the aforementioned, Ohanaeze Ndigbo earnestly calls upon Governor Alex Otti to summon his moral fortitude and emulate the commendable example set by Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo.
“Governor Soludo seized the occasion of President Tinubu’s recent visit to Anambra State to boldly declare the official adoption of President Tinubu as the sole candidate for the All Progressives Congress ,APC, in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
“It is imperative that Governor Otti follows this lead, thereby affirming our collective commitment to national unity and progress.
“As we prepare for President Bola Tinubu’s visit, we urge all Abians and members of the Igbo community to join in extending a resounding welcome to our president on the 23rd of May, 2025.
“This act of solidarity is not merely a ceremonial gesture; it is a profound statement of support for the policies that can lift our communities and foster development across our region.
“Let this occasion herald a new chapter of collaboration and unity between the Igbo Nation and the federal government, epitomised by our endorsement and support for President Tinubu’s leadership as we look towards the future”.
Recall that the group in the build-up to the 2023 general elections affirmed Obi, who contested on the platform of Labour Party, LP, as its sole candidate.
The group stated then that Obi “represents the body and soul of Ndi Igbo in the 2023 general election”.
The current twist of the group now supporting Tinubu is a major political upset for Obi, whose political base is the Southeast, and is eyeing the forthcoming presidential race.
