Minister of Works Dave Umahi has predicted a major improvement in President Bola Tinubu’s electoral performance in the South East in 2027, arguing that the region’s political relationship with the federal government has changed since the last presidential election.
Umahi said he believed Tinubu could win all five states in the region, although the claim remains a political projection ahead of the election. Peter Obi won the five South East states as the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023.
Speaking on Channels Television, Umahi attributed the APC’s poor showing in the region in 2023 partly to what he described as marginalization under the previous federal administration. He cited the absence of South East representation in some senior security positions and major ministerial portfolios.
According to the minister, the Tinubu administration has altered that perception through appointments and increased engagement with the region. He pointed to his own appointment as Works Minister and to other federal positions held by people from the South East.
Umahi argued that appointments, federal projects and the administration’s wider relationship with the region would influence voting behavior in 2027.
He also played down suggestions that Obi alone represented a decisive obstacle to Tinubu in the region, noting that other South East politicians were seeking the presidency. He nevertheless acknowledged Obi as a significant political figure whose influence the APC would not ignore.
The minister disclosed that discussions on creating an additional state in the South East were continuing. The region currently has five states, fewer than most other geopolitical zones.
Umahi described the demand for a sixth state as an issue of equity rather than preferential treatment and said engagement with the National Assembly was ongoing.
His comments reflect the APC’s effort to expand its support in a region where the party has historically faced strong electoral resistance. Whether the administration’s appointments and projects translate into votes will ultimately be determined by the electorate in 2027.
