David Umahi says Peter Obi is not South-East Nigeria’s best candidate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigeria’s Works Minister David Umahi says Peter Obi cannot be the best presidential candidate from the South-East. He criticises the former Ebonyi governor for not consulting regional political leaders before his 2023 candidacy, according to an interview with ARISE News.
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, said on Friday that Peter Obi could not be the best presidential candidate from south-east Nigeria for the 2027 election, Punch reports. In an interview with ARISE News, the former governor of Ebonyi State said Peter Obi was “not the best” political representative of the region.
David Umahi criticised Peter Obi for not sufficiently consulting the governors and other political leaders in the South-East before his 2023 presidential bid. He said a candidacy put forward on behalf of an entire region must be based on consultation with its leaders and argued that other South-East figures were qualified to seek the presidency.
The minister also challenged the idea that the presidency should automatically go to Anambra State if the South-East gains that opportunity. He cited Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo states as ones that could be considered, recalling that Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president, came from the area corresponding to present-day Anambra State, according to Punch.
The statements come as President Bola Tinubu prepares for the 2027 election and Nigerian leaders take positions on forthcoming alliances. They follow questions from the APC, the governing party, about opposition figure Atiku Abubakar’s economic competence on 22 October 2026.
