Umahi: Peter Obi Not a Threat to Tinubu in 2027 Election

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said that Peter Obi does not pose any threat to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Umahi, who used to be the governor of Ebonyi State, believes that the APC can win all five South-east states in 2027. He argued that Tinubu's government has tackled the marginalization that the region faced under the last administration.

He made these comments on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

Peter Obi, who ran for president in 2023 with the Labour Party (LP), won all five South-east states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

But Umahi said the results of that election were partly a reaction to how the previous administration treated the region.

"I will not blame the South-east in the last election because, virtually, we were not fairly treated by the past administration. Service chiefs, we got none; major ministerial portfolios, we got none," he said.

"And so, the marginalisation continued, and they even increased at that point. And so you will not totally blame them for that."

He mentioned that things have changed under Tinubu. South-east politicians now hold important positions in the federal government.

"But now, the story is totally different. I’m the Minister of Works; we have never had a Minister of Works before. We have a Minister of Foreign Affairs; we have a Minister of Science and Industry. We are very happy with the appointments we’ve got. They’re very happy. Now, we have done quite a lot," he said.

Umahi also pointed out that other presidential candidates from the South-east will influence Obi’s chances in 2027.

"By the way, it is not only Peter Obi that is from the South-east that is contesting. We have about three or four other presidential candidates who are contesting," he said.

"We have the Labour Party and I think there are other two, even a woman is involved. So, Peter Obi is not a threat as far as I am concerned."

However, Umahi said his view should not be taken as an attempt to downplay Obi’s influence. He believes that the Tinubu government’s record and how it treats the South-east will help the APC win back support in the region.

Obi has remained a key political figure in the South-east since the 2023 election, when he won all five states for the LP.

The minister also mentioned that efforts to create an additional state for the South-east are ongoing. He described the process as a "work in progress."

Right now, the South-east has five states, which is the lowest among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The call for a sixth state has gained new attention, with Anioma (the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State) suggested as one option.

Umahi stated that the region is not looking for special treatment but wants fair treatment.

"The South-east is not asking for treatment better than others. We just want to be fairly treated, and I want to thank the National Assembly," he said.

"We are talking about getting the sixth state in the South-east. It’s a work in progress. It’s also what we are telling our people because equity demands that we should have what other people have."

He also mentioned the appointment of South-east people to important federal positions as proof of the government’s commitment to include the region.

"The president has fully integrated the South-east. Remember, we had the Naval Chief; now we have the Air Force Chief. The good intention is that the president has taken the entire nation as one united family," he said.

The creation of an additional state in the South-east has been discussed in the National Assembly, with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia North previously advocating for Anioma State to be created from Delta North.