South-East APC Endorses Tinubu for Second Term, Vows Bloc Votes in 2027

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East have formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, declaring that pragmatic politics rooted in unity, bridge-building, and alignment with the centre is now imperative for advancing the collective interests of the Igbo nation.

The endorsement, which came with a firm commitment to mobilise massive bloc votes for Tinubu in the 2027 general election, was the high point of the South-East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting, tagged “Izu Umunna,” held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu. The meeting drew governors, lawmakers, party leaders, elders and critical stakeholders from across the five states of the region.

In a decisive move, the stakeholders vowed to resist what they described as ego-driven and divisive politics capable of balkanising the South-East vote and weakening the region’s bargaining power at the national level. They resolved to prioritise collective interest over personal ambition in future political engagements.

Speaking at the meeting, the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said the region could no longer afford political isolation, stressing that the South-East’s marginal contribution to the APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election significantly weakened its national leverage.

According to Uzodinma, while other geopolitical zones delivered between 34 and 54 per cent of votes to the APC in 2023, the South-East recorded about six per cent, a development he described as politically unsustainable. He noted, however, that the tide has since changed, citing the growing influence of the APC in the region.

“Today, the APC controls three out of the five South-East states. Our representation in the Senate has grown from six to eight, while our members in the House of Representatives have increased from eight to 23,” he said. “These numbers give us hope, but they also challenge us. Politics is pay as you earn. No zone can produce a president alone.”

Uzodinma added that President Tinubu had entrusted the political responsibility of his re-election to the South-East, describing it as both an honour and a duty the region must embrace with seriousness.

In his address, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, described the endorsement of President Tinubu as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism,” noting that the South-East had moved from standing at the crossroads of history to actively shaping it.

Mbah said the decision to support Tinubu’s second term was based on facts, vision and tangible gains already accruing to the region through alignment with the centre. He cited the revival of the Eastern Railway corridor, gas and energy development initiatives, and the approval of the concession of the Enugu Airport as strategic federal interventions with long-term economic impact.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a slogan,” Mbah said. “It aligns vision at the centre with delivery at the states. These are strategic decisions that reflect inclusive governance.”

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State also expressed optimism that by 2027 all South-East governors would be members of the APC. He urged party leaders to embrace reconciliation and sacrifice to effectively manage the influx of new members into the party.

The motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term was moved by former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim, and seconded by another former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani. Nnamani described the endorsement as courageous and strategic, warning that continued complaints of marginalisation would persist if the South-East failed to play smart, inclusive politics.

“If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must enter the shade,” he said.

The meeting ended with the presentation of a communique unanimously signed by governors, party leaders and stakeholders, declaring total support for Tinubu as the APC’s sole presidential candidate in 2027. The communique rejected self-serving politics and called for unity of purpose among Ndi Igbo.

The stakeholders further urged Igbo people at home and in the diaspora to embrace the APC as the most viable platform for advancing the region’s political and economic interests. They pledged to mobilise human, material and political resources to deliver decisive bloc votes for Tinubu across the five South-East states in 2027, with governors assigned specific coordination roles.

Prominent figures at the meeting included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ikedi Ohakim; as well as senators, lawmakers and party elders from across the region.