2027: Enugu ADC Declares South‑East Will Not Vote for Tinubu, Countering Umahi's Claim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State has warned Minister of Works Dave Umahi that threatening the South‑East to vote overwhelmingly for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) could jeopardise major federal infrastructure projects in the region.

ADC said that even “at gunpoint” the people of the South‑East would not vote for Tinubu, arguing that his government has worsened the marginalisation of the Ndigbo in Nigeria.

The statement came after Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi State, visited federal road and bridge projects in Ebonyi on Wednesday and urged the South‑East to back Tinubu “overwhelmingly,” warning that failure to do so could end the continuation of major federal infrastructure projects.

Umahi claimed that the South‑East has regained relevance in national politics under the current administration, citing his appointment as Minister of Works and the scale of projects across the region.

In a strong‑worded press statement on Sunday, Enugu ADC Secretary Comrade Adolphus Ude expressed serious disapproval of Umahi’s remarks, calling them reckless, unwarranted and irresponsible. Ude, the founding Deputy Chairman of the APC in Enugu State, rebuked Umahi for attempting to use intimidation and force to secure a victory for Tinubu in the South‑East.

The ADC scribe noted that the people of the South‑East are known for their independent voting behaviour and that no form of coercion or threat can compel them to vote for a candidate who is not their choice.

Ude criticised Umahi’s claim that Tinubu has addressed the marginalisation of the South‑East, stating that the exclusion of the region has actually increased under the current administration.

Quoting the press statement:

“Enugu ADC challenges Umahi to go beyond making outrageous claims and to state in clear terms the major infrastructure projects going on across the South‑East, to warrant the region to vote overwhelmingly for President Tinubu in 2027.”

“Umahi should name the location of the major infrastructure projects of the Tinubu government in the South‑East and their worth in monetary terms. Regarding allocation of infrastructure projects, no government has marginalised the South‑East more than the current administration.”

“No part of the South‑East was considered, even as a bypass for the two major road infrastructure projects of the Tinubu government, namely the controversial multi‑trillion Naira Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto‑Bagadry Highway. These are brand new road projects.”

“The so‑called major infrastructure projects of Umahi in the South‑East are abandoned projects from previous federal governments, some dating back to the era of the PDP, before the APC government inherited them.”

“As of today, there is no visible new infrastructure project being executed by the Tinubu government anywhere in the South‑East. The long‑anticipated dredging of River Niger is not going on. The South‑East does not have a rail line. So, where are the infrastructure projects that will be jeopardised if the South‑East fails to vote for Tinubu?”

“Besides, Umahi cannot claim that he is not aware that the South‑East is the only region whose passport‑issuing machines have been deactivated, compelling Igbos who want to get travel passports to rely solely on Abuja.”

Ude also dismissed Umahi’s assertion that the South‑East has regained relevance under the Tinubu administration, warning the minister to separate his personal interests from those of the region.

Describing the marginalisation of the South‑East under the Tinubu government as “unprecedented,” Ude noted that the region is the only one with five Ministers in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), three of whom are junior Ministers, whereas Ogun State alone has four Ministers.

Ude insisted that the South‑East owes President Tinubu nothing, having been grossly excluded by his administration in the allocation of federal infrastructure, intervention funds and appointments.

He recalled that in 2023 Tinubu lost woefully in all five South‑East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo—scoring less than 10 percent of the total votes cast. According to Ude, despite Umahi’s bravado as the former governor of Ebonyi State, Tinubu could not secure more than 13 percent of the votes in that state during the last presidential election.

Ude maintained that nothing has changed under the Tinubu administration to guarantee a reversal of the ruling party’s fortunes in the South‑East for the upcoming 2027 elections.

Consequently, Ude asked Umahi to withdraw the threat that the South‑East must vote for Tinubu or risk the continuation of federal projects, and to issue an unreserved apology to the Ndigbo for speaking down on them.