Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that he is optimistic that President Bola Tinubu will secure victory across the five states in Nigeria’s South-East during the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Umahi said his conviction was based on his belief that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could make significant gains across the region.
According to the minister, he is already engaging with residents of the South-East and working towards securing their support for Tinubu ahead of the election.
Umahi said, “My faith is telling me we will win the five states. I’m working for it. I’m explaining to our people.”
He urged people from the region to move beyond politics driven solely by geographical or ethnic considerations, arguing that such an approach could limit the South-East’s ability to build stronger relationships with other parts of the country.
The minister stressed the importance of national cooperation, saying the region should be willing to establish stronger political connections with people across Nigeria.
At present, the APC governs Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states, while Abia is controlled by the Labour Party (LP) and Anambra is governed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Umahi also contrasted the current administration with the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He argued that the South-East did not receive sufficient representation under Buhari, particularly regarding important federal appointments.
According to him, the situation has changed under Tinubu, whom he said has demonstrated greater willingness to involve the region in his administration.
Umahi maintained that Tinubu has treated the country as a single entity and has made efforts to ensure that people from the South-East are represented in strategic positions.
He pointed to the appointment of individuals from the region to senior military positions as evidence of the administration’s broader approach to inclusion.
“The president has fully integrated the South-East. Remember, we had the Naval Chief; now we have the Air Force Chief,” Umahi stated.
He explained that the appointments reflected what he described as Tinubu’s desire to govern Nigeria as one united family rather than favouring one particular region.
The minister further argued that people from the South-East are not demanding special privileges from the federal government. Instead, he said, the region is seeking equal opportunities and fair representation.
Umahi also expressed appreciation to members of the National Assembly for their efforts towards addressing some of the concerns raised by the region.
He disclosed that discussions surrounding the creation of an additional state in the South-East remain ongoing, describing the process as work in progress.
According to him, the proposed sixth state would help address what he described as an imbalance in the number of states across the various regions.
Umahi said achieving greater equity was important and urged residents of the South-East to understand the efforts being made by the federal government and lawmakers.
He added that the administration would continue to communicate its policies and initiatives to the people while encouraging stronger cooperation between the South-East and other parts of Nigeria.
