The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has formally challenged comments made by Works Minister David Umahi regarding the presidential bid of Peter Obi. The council maintains that no single political figure holds the power to dictate the electoral preferences of the Igbo population.
Senator Umahi had previously requested that South-East voters withhold their support for Obi. In response, UNIEC Director-General Alpha Justice Ikpeama stated that the future of the Igbo people cannot be controlled by any one individual. The council highlighted that the Igbo tradition of independent judgment and republican philosophy ensures that political decisions remain a private matter for each citizen.
Operating as a non-partisan institution, UNIEC emphasized that it neither backs nor rejects specific candidates. Instead, it focuses on promoting democratic values and protecting the rights of citizens to vote without external pressure or intimidation. The group urged government officials to avoid inflammatory rhetoric that could destabilize the region during the election cycle.
UNIEC reminded stakeholders that political competition should center on policy, competence, and service rather than top-down directives. The council encouraged voters to evaluate candidates based on their integrity, vision, and dedication to national progress while calling on all residents in the South-East to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
