By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed Minister of Works David Umahi’s claim that it is not yet the South-East’s turn to produce Nigeria’s president, saying only voters, not politicians, can decide who leads the country in 2027.
Speaking through his media aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Obi said democracy is about the will of the people, not elite agreements.
“It is the people who will decide who becomes the next president, not any individual,” he stated.
Umahi had urged South-East politicians to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and wait until after his tenure, citing Tinubu’s ongoing infrastructure projects in the region.
Obi countered that while zoning is part of Nigeria’s political reality, performance and credibility should guide voters’ choices.
He warned against interpreting recent defections in the South-East as genuine political realignment, calling them “desperate moves for government patronage.”
The exchange between Obi and Umahi has reignited debate on zoning and political inclusion, with analysts noting it signals early positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.
