“We’ve Ended the 73-Year Igbo-Yoruba Rivalry, Adopt Tinubu for 2027 – Factional Ohanaeze

In a historic announcement, a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, alongside governors and ministers from the South-East, has adopted President Bola Tinubu as their consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential elections, declaring an end to a 73-year-long Igbo-Yoruba rivalry.

The decision was made during the 2025 Igbo Day celebrations, themed “IGBO EKUNIE: The Reawakening of the Igbo Spirit of Excellence and Enterprise,” held across the seven Igbo-speaking states. The event culminated in a grand finale in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, September 29, 2025, and drew dignitaries from across Nigeria and the global Igbo diaspora.

The communique announcing the adoption was signed by Prince Dr. Richard Ozobu, Chief Jackson Omenazu, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chibuikeya Achoakawa, Chief Chinenyeze, Professor Mrs. Nneoma Ukpabi, and Chief Alex Okemiri. It emphasized that the celebrations included interfaith prayers at the Afikpo Central Mosque in Ebonyi State, a Sabbath Divine Worship at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Umuahia, and a global church service at Jesus Sanctuary Ministries in Port Harcourt. These prayers were dedicated to peace, security, and spiritual prosperity for Igboland, as well as to honor those who sacrificed for the advancement of the Igbo people.

Participants at the grand finale reflected on Igbo political, economic, and social history and reached several key resolutions. Foremost was the call to end the longstanding Igbo-Yoruba rivalry, with the communique noting historical efforts such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s selection of Chief Philip Umeadi as his Vice Presidential candidate in 1979 as a model for unity. The group also extended a gesture of reconciliation to Afenifere and other Yoruba leaders.

The faction expressed unwavering support for President Tinubu, commending his administration for prioritizing the Southeast, addressing infrastructural deficits, improving security, and promoting economic growth through Nigeria’s inclusion in the BRICS bloc. The ₦5 trillion road project in the Southeast and the contributions of Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, were highlighted as transformative initiatives, with calls for Umahi to remain in office until 2031 alongside Tinubu’s tenure.

Additionally, the communique demanded the swift implementation of strategic projects, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri standard gauge railway, the Enugu Coal Mine, the dredging of Azumiri Seaport, and the restoration of Ivo Dam. The preservation and promotion of Igbo language and culture were emphasized, with calls for state governments to establish world-class Igbo language centers and adopt Igbo as the official language in schools.

On security, the group noted significant improvements following the dissolution of the Monday Sit-at-Home order and praised federal efforts to restore peace and stability in the Southeast.