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Works Minister David Umahi declared Friday that Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer Peter Obi can never be considered the best presidential candidate from the South-East.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News, Umahi defended South-East leaders supporting President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election, criticising Obi for failing to consult key regional stakeholders and governors before pursuing his presidential ambitions.
Umahi argued that no politician should pursue an ambition representing the entire region in isolation.
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“You cannot play politics in the South East without consulting people like us,” Umahi stated, noting he would have consulted regional leaders himself had he run.
He challenged the idea that Obi, who now leads the NDC presidential ticket, remains the region’s only viable option, emphasising that Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, and Imo states deserve consideration alongside Anambra, which already produced Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Defending South-East politicians who back Tinubu, the former Ebonyi governor rejected claims that supporting the president constitutes a betrayal of the region.
He maintained that the South-East must build broad national alliances rather than demand loyalty to a single candidate, stressing that the region will eventually produce a president; “it is not yet our turn.”
