Igbo Leaders Planning Summit to Endorse Tinubu for Second Term – Umahi

Prominent leaders from Nigeria’s South-east are planning a regional summit to formally endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to Minister of Works Dave Umahi. Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, revealed the plan in a documentary commemorating the president’s second year in office, as announced by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

Umahi stated that all five South-east governors—regardless of party affiliation—are united in support of the president. “We’re even planning a summit to bring together all South-east leaders to endorse the president for the 2027 elections formally,” he said.

Although President Tinubu has not yet declared his intention to run again, he is widely expected to do so. He narrowly won the 2023 presidential election, securing victory in only 12 out of Nigeria’s 36 states. In the South-east, Tinubu lost in all five states—Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Abia—receiving less than 10 percent of the region’s total vote. In contrast, Labour Party candidate Peter Obi dominated the zone, garnering over 75 percent of the votes.

Of the five South-east states, two—Imo and Ebonyi—are governed by the APC, while the remaining three are led by other political parties. Despite this, Umahi insisted that all five governors are aligned with the president’s agenda.

In his remarks, Umahi also called on Peter Obi to drop his 2027 presidential bid and instead back Tinubu’s re-election effort.