South-East APC Leaders Endorse Tinubu for 2027, Vow to Deliver Bloc Votes

Governors of Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states—Hope Uzodimma, Peter Mbah and Francis Nwifuru—alongside leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East have formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, pledging to mobilise bloc votes for him in the 2027 general election.
The endorsement was made at the South-East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting, tagged “Izu Umunna,” held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, where governors, lawmakers, party elders and leaders from across the zone resolved to align fully with the ruling party at the centre.
According to a statement from the Enugu State Government, stakeholders agreed to resist what they described as the balkanisation of South-East votes by individual ambitions, warning that such divisions had historically weakened the region’s bargaining power at the national level.
Speaking at the meeting, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, said the region could no longer afford political isolation, stressing that President Tinubu had shown confidence in the South-East ahead of 2027.
“Politics is pay as you earn. No zone can produce a president alone. If we continue to vote provincially, we will remain on the sidelines of national power,” Uzodimma said.
He recalled that the South-East contributed only about six per cent of the votes secured by the APC in the 2023 presidential election, compared with between 34 and 54 per cent delivered by other regions—an outcome he said significantly reduced the zone’s influence at the federal level.
Uzodimma highlighted the APC’s growing footprint in the region, noting that the party now controls three of the five South-East states, has increased its Senate seats from six to eight, and expanded its House of Representatives representation from eight to 23.
“These numbers give us hope, but they also challenge us. Growth among leaders must translate to votes at the ballot box in 2027,” he said.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, described the endorsement as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism,” arguing that alignment with the federal government had already begun to yield tangible benefits for the region.
He cited key federal interventions such as the revival of the Eastern Railway corridor, gas and energy development initiatives, and the concession of the Enugu Airport, which he said would transform the state into an international gateway to the South-East.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a political slogan. It is about aligning vision at the centre with delivery at the states,” Mbah said.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, expressed optimism that all South-East governors would be APC members by 2027, urging party leaders to prioritise reconciliation and manage the influx of new members effectively.
The motion endorsing Tinubu for a second term was moved by former Senate President, Pius Anyim, and seconded by another former Senate President, Ken Nnamani. Nnamani warned that complaints of marginalisation would persist if the region failed to play strategic politics.
“If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must stand under a shelter,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, a communiqué signed by governors and stakeholders unanimously declared Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate for 2027, rejecting what they described as ego-driven and divisive politics. Leaders pledged to deploy human, material and political resources to deliver bloc votes for the president across the five South-East states.
Other prominent figures at the meeting included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ikedi Ohakim; senators, lawmakers and party elders from the zone.
However, the endorsement drew criticism from some quarters. A former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Rivers State, Apostle Eugene Ogu, described the move as “shameful,” faulting South-East leaders for endorsing Tinubu while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention.
“These same elders went to President Tinubu and pleaded for Kanu’s release, which was rejected. This means they have been hoodwinking the people of the South-East. This is a grand deception,” Ogu said.
He argued that until the region gains a stronger sense of belonging at the federal level, Tinubu would struggle for acceptance in the South-East, citing poor infrastructure, lack of electricity and minimal federal presence in the zone.
Ogu also warned against attempts to undermine other Igbo political leaders, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, insisting such actions would have political consequences. He expressed doubts about the APC’s popularity, claiming the party was losing support nationwide amid economic hardship and insecurity.
Meanwhile, the APC Christians’ Wing in Adamawa State dismissed claims that the party is dominated by Muslims, insisting that Tinubu’s re-election bid transcends religion.
Speaking for the group, Joseph Mwadyile said the establishment of the Christian youth wing was aimed at promoting unity, inclusion and active participation of Christian youths in party affairs.
“The APC is a national party built on inclusiveness, justice, fairness and equal opportunity for all Nigerians, regardless of religion or ethnicity,” Mwadyile said.
He added that greater inclusion of Christian youths would boost grassroots mobilisation and electoral success, expressing confidence that Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 would strengthen democracy and stabilise the economy.