Umahi Predicts Different Voting Behavior in South-East for 2027 Election

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that voters in the South-East will likely change their support in the 2027 presidential election. He attributes this shift to the federal infrastructure projects and appointments made by President Bola Tinubu.

Umahi described the South-East’s strong backing for Peter Obi in the 2023 election as an “accident of history.” He explained that this voting pattern was largely due to feelings of neglect under the previous administration. Now, he believes the situation has improved under Tinubu.

In an interview, Umahi said, “In 2023, it was a demonstration of the anger of the people of South East on how they were treated.” He emphasized that the region has been marginalized in the past, but that is changing.

He pointed to increased federal investments in infrastructure and appointments for the South-East as reasons for this optimism. Umahi expressed confidence that voters will show their appreciation for Tinubu’s efforts in the upcoming election.

According to Umahi, many influential figures in the South-East, including governors and traditional leaders, are aligning themselves with Tinubu. He believes voters will be hesitant to abandon the progress they have seen in infrastructure for another uncertain political choice.

Umahi also addressed criticisms from social media users who attack South-East leaders for supporting Tinubu. He argued that such negativity does not help Obi or the region’s political interests. He urged the South-East to engage with other parts of Nigeria to enhance their chances of producing a president in the future.

When asked if he thought Tinubu would win against Obi in the South-East in 2027, Umahi confidently replied that this is what he expects to happen.