Tinubu Will Lose Uzodinma’s Polling Unit in 2027 — ADC Chieftain

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State and National Coordinator of ADC Like Minds, Comrade Adolphus Ude, has dismissed as meaningless the reported resolution by South-East governors to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Ude, a former foundation Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, cautioned the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum (SEGF) and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, against assuming he could deliver the entire South-East to President Tinubu “wholesale” in 2027.

He confidently declared that the ruling APC would lose Governor Uzodinma’s polling unit—Ekwenja Okwu-Ozu (PU032), Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area—before noon on the day of the presidential election.

The ADC chieftain was reacting to comments credited to Governor Uzodinma, who stated that South-East governors and leaders had agreed to support President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls. Uzodinma made the remarks during a New Year courtesy visit to the residence of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in Nvosi, Isialangwa South LGA, where he said the decision was aimed at fostering regional collaboration for development.

However, in a press release issued on Saturday, Ude described the alleged endorsement as inconsequential and motivated by self-interest rather than genuine concern for the development of the South-East.

According to him, the governors’ support for Tinubu is driven by access to huge federal allocations to states and local governments, which he alleged are being shared without accountability.

“Governor Hope Uzodinma should tell the world the actual reason behind their support for Tinubu. He cannot convince us that it is about collaboration among South-East states. We are not fools,” Ude said.

He further questioned Uzodinma’s record as Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, asking how frequently the forum had met since he assumed office in June 2023. Ude noted that while Uzodinma is often seen publicly accompanying the President on official engagements, the SEGF has made little impact in addressing critical regional issues.

Ude also accused Igbo governors, under Uzodinma’s leadership, of working against one another during governorship elections—an occurrence he said was unprecedented in the region’s political history.

He lamented the absence of a functional secretariat for the South-East Governors Forum since November last year, following the decision of its Director-General to contest as a deputy governorship candidate of the APC against a sitting South-East governor from another party.

While governors in other regions, he said, are collaborating to tackle insecurity and promote development, Ude accused their South-East counterparts of prioritising political endorsements over addressing insecurity, economic hardship, and infrastructural decay.

He further alleged that since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, the South-East has suffered increased marginalisation in federal appointments and infrastructure allocation.

Ude maintained that the people of the South-East are politically conscious and would not be deceived by what he described as “fire-brigade courtesy visits” by some APC governors, allegedly prompted by the growing movement of prominent Igbo politicians into the ADC from the Labour Party and other political platforms.

“In 2027, we will speak with our votes, just as we did in previous elections. Those supporting Tinubu will be defeated even in their polling units because they lack grassroots influence,” he asserted.

He urged South-East residents to embrace the ADC-led coalition, describing the party as a pan-Nigerian platform committed to rescuing the country from what he termed the maladministration of the APC.

Ude assured Nigerians that an ADC government would prioritise security, curb excessive taxation, halt reckless borrowing, revive the economy, and implement people-oriented policies aimed at improving the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Signed:

Comrade A. C. Ude

Media Office

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