Governors in the South-East are quietly aligning with President Bola Tinubu as they prepare for the 2027 election cycle. While these state leaders belong to various political parties, they are focusing on securing their own re-election or establishing successors, with many now backing the President’s agenda. This shift comes despite the significant influence of Peter Obi, who remains a prominent figure in the region.
Minister of Works David Umahi has been a vocal supporter, asserting that the South-East would benefit by voting for Tinubu in the upcoming January 2027 polls. Umahi maintains that previous support for other candidates was a miscalculation and that the region is finally seeing tangible infrastructure progress under the current administration. He highlighted projects like the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as evidence of the administration’s commitment to addressing historical neglect.
The federal government, supported by state governors including Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Peter Mbah of Enugu, and Alex Otti of Abia, has showcased numerous infrastructure developments ranging from new roads and bridges to healthcare facilities and smart city initiatives. Governors credit the federal government’s economic reforms—specifically subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification—for increasing state allocations, which has enabled them to fund these large-scale projects. As these developments continue, the political focus remains on whether this federal investment will successfully translate into electoral votes for the President in 2027.
