Southeast APC governors and political leaders have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election, warning against a repeat of the poor voter turnout that left the party with just six per cent of votes in 2023.
The endorsement was announced after a gathering of APC stakeholders in Enugu themed ‘Izu Umunne’.
Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi and host governor Peter Mbah were in attendance, alongside Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Anyim Pius Anyim, and several federal lawmakers.
Presenting the communique, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman (Southeast), said the zone was distancing itself from “self-serving interests of any individual” and aligning strategically with the ruling party to advance regional interests.
He said support for Tinubu “is anchored on the transformative policies of the APC-led Federal Government,” stressing the need to secure “our fair share of national resources, infrastructure, appointments and development.”
He declared that the Southeast now offers “unalloyed, total and unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our sole and undisputed presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.”
The communique praised Tinubu’s “focused efforts to bridge long-standing infrastructural gaps in the South-East” and the elevation of Igbo appointees to key national positions. It added that Tinubu’s “competence, results and national cohesion” had earned regional confidence.
Stakeholders also pledged loyalty to the Southeast Governors Forum led by Uzodimma, describing the governors as offering “visionary guidance, steady statesmanship and consistent defence of the interest of Ndi Igbo.”
The leaders resolved that “never again will we allow personal ego and motivated actions to influence the fate of the Zone,” arguing that unity within a ruling party provides stronger bargaining power.
Delegates urged the Igbo across Nigeria and the diaspora to embrace the APC, rejecting scattered voting patterns that “historically diminished our influence and bargaining power.” They agreed on aggressive voter mobilisation, party strengthening and grassroots unity ahead of 2027.
Anyim Pius Anyim, who moved the endorsement motion, said “there is no better candidate that can help the region actualise her intentions except Tinubu,” insisting that he had “succeeded where others have failed.” Ken Nnamani seconded the motion.
Uzodimma warned against a repeat of the 2023 vote pattern, saying his role as Director-General of the Renewed Hope Initiative 2027 comes with the responsibility to deliver APC victories in the region.
Nwifuru called for sustained reception of new defectors to build party strength, while Mbah said the shift towards APC in the Southeast reflects pragmatism and a clearer appreciation of federal–state alignment.
Mbah: Why Tinubu’s Endorsement, S’East’s Alignment with Centre Matter
Mbah said that Tinubu’s endorsement and the massive movement to the APC, which now controlled three out of the five South East states were a paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism, noting that the region was already reaping the benefits of aligning with the centre.
“I am thrilled even more so by the major goal of this meeting, which is to stamp a seal of endorsement on the President’s bold reforms and his candidacy in the 2027 election.
“This is no whimsical decision; it is rooted in facts – and the understanding that success as a region comes from vision that is clear enough to guide action, discipline strong enough to withstand pressure, strategy grounded in reality, and delivery that is relentless.
“Politics is nurtured by partnership; the willingness to trust each other, to align, and to work together even when the path is challenging.
“Enugu State has become a bastion of the APC. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has begun the difficult work of repositioning itself for long-term strength. Hard choices have been made for sustainability.”
Continuing, he stressed, “The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond political slogan. This endorsement is a clear decision to stand together and push this momentum further.
“It is about understanding that the ambitions we hold for our people, for our economy, for our future, are best served when vision at the centre aligns with delivery at the states and vice versa.”
Mbah emphasised that for the South East, “there has been a clear recognition from the federal government that national progress cannot be achieved with any region standing at the margins.”
“We are seeing that recognition translate into action as our common aspirations are connected to national opportunities.
“For a region teeming with entrepreneurial zest, it is ironic that energy development and gas prospecting across the South East have long seemed a distant prospect. But this is becoming an active priority, laying the groundwork for industrial growth and jobs.
“The Eastern Rail Line, connecting Port Harcourt through Aba, Umuahia, Enugu and beyond, is back on the national map, restoring the arteries of trade and mobility that once defined this region.
“Equally heartwarming is the approval of the Enugu airport concession. This is a turning point that has positioned Enugu as an international gateway for the South East, given how it opens direct access to Africa and the wider world.
“These are not symbolic gestures. They are strategic decisions in support of our region. And they reflect something deeper: a federal leadership that understands the value of decentralised execution, of strong states delivering strong outcomes, and of partnership as a tool for national renewal,” he stated.
He emphasised that going forward, the South East would pursue unity of purpose, rather than fragmented politics, which he said had undermined progress.
“Our region’s chequered history reminds us how easily progress can be undone when unity gives way to fragmentation. But it also reminds us of what is possible when purpose is shared and direction is clear. What is emerging now is the influence of sustained coordination.
“In collectively affirming an end to decades of fragmented politics in the South East, we’re saying that the South East will no longer stand as a divided political unit.
“This is a moment to think clearly and act strategically, and to remain focused on outcomes. Let us lean into partnership, not retreat into suspicion.
“Let us build, rather than fracture. And let us protect and extend the progress already in motion. That is the work before us. And that is w hy this endorsement matters,” he concluded.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forthwith recognise the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party, pending when the party convenes a national convention.
