The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that leaders and stakeholders from the South-East region are prepared to endorse President Bola Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Endorsement announcement during road inspection
Umahi made the disclosure while inspecting ongoing federal road projects across Ebonyi State over the weekend. The statement was released on Sunday by his spokesperson, Francis Nwaze. According to the minister, the planned endorsement is a recognition of President Tinubu's dedication to infrastructure development and inclusiveness in the South-East.
“South-East are very appreciative of what the President is doing. By Monday, under the leadership of the Governor of Ebonyi State, we will demonstrate this appreciation when we adopt the President as our sole candidate,” Umahi stated.
Infrastructure projects highlighted
During the inspection, Umahi emphasized various federal infrastructure projects being executed in Ebonyi State and across the South-East. He noted that these projects reflect the Tinubu administration's commitment to regional development. Speaking at sections of the Calabar-Abuja highway project, he explained the purpose of a flyover under construction along the Trans-Saharan Super Highway corridor.
“Let me say that this is the point where the Trans-Saharan Route takes a bend. The essence of this flyover is to resolve the conflict at this point,” he said.
Umahi also revealed that the Federal Government has allocated funds in the 2026 budget for a road connecting the corridor to the Ebonyi State capital. “The road going to the capital city, which is 18 kilometres from this point, is included in the 2026 budget, and the Federal Government will undertake the connection to the city centre,” he added.
Contractor payments assured
The minister assured contractors handling federal road projects that outstanding payments would be settled despite current funding constraints. “Of course, the contractor has not been paid, but we are creditworthy. All contractors being owed will be paid. There should be no stoppage of work because we want to see if we can commission this project by December. The cost is ₦25 billion,” he explained.
Umahi described the ongoing projects as evidence of the Federal Government's efforts to address infrastructure deficits in the South-East. “This is just the beginning. You will see remarkable projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-East. When we talk about the gains of the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some people who do not understand what we are talking about will continue to criticize us,” he said.
Political alignment and rejection of Obidient movement
Umahi maintained that residents of the region have acknowledged the administration's interventions and are prepared to express their support for the President. Commenting on the region's political alignment ahead of the next general election, the minister stated that Ebonyi State would not support the Obidient movement associated with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
“Let it be known that Ebonyi State is not obedient because we want to catch up with the rest of the country, and we will never be obedient. What happened before was an accident of history. It will not repeat itself,” he declared.
The minister's remarks come amid growing political activities and realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
