South-east APC Leaders, Elders Counter Obi Factor, Rally Support for Tinubu

*Warn against scattering of region’s votes across multiple parties

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu

Barely 11 days after the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi declared his “full membership” of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a bid to pursue his presidential ambition in 2027, the leaders, elders and critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-east yesterday passed resolutions countering any challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s second term aspiration from the zone.

Obi, who announced his choice of party in Enugu during a “special event” organised by the South-east stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), LP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), promised to use the platform to retrieve Nigeria from bad leadership that has been holding the country down.But in a communique reached at the end of their historic ‘Izu Umunne’ meeting held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, the South-east APC leaders drew a battle line with other political interests in the zone who are opposed to Tinubu’s re-election.The motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term was formally moved by former Senate President Pius Anyim and seconded by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who described the decision as courageous and strategic. The APC leaders vowed that the zone would not be swayed into supporting any other presidential candidate and scattering the South-east votes across multiple political parties.

At the meeting, the South-east zonal APC leaders said they engaged in “thorough deliberations on national developments, regional challenges and the strategic place of Ndi Igbo in the country’s political future”.The meeting was well attended with all three APC governors – Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and the host Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State – all in attendance.In the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the party leaders and critical stakeholders declared the South-east zone’s “unalloyed, total and unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our sole and undisputed presidential candidate for the 2027 general election”.

They categorically dissociated the people of the South-east Zone “from all activities motivated by the self-serving interests of any individual, however highly placed”.They held that “the progress of our zone and our great party cannot be achieved through narrow personal ambitions or actions that fracture collective unity.”According to the communique, “any such conduct shall henceforth be regarded as contrary to our shared aspirations and will receive neither endorsement nor support from our zone.”

The APC leaders added: “The political leadership of the South-east has resolved, in the supreme interest of Ndi Igbo, that never again will we allow personal ego and motivated actions to influence the fate of the Zone.“In this regard, the South-east will join other zones in supporting the ruling party, wherein our leaders can effectively negotiate better representation and the interests of our people.”

According to them, the APC is the most practical party of choice for our people; hence, political, traditional, and business leaders, as well as the mass population, have resolved to support the ruling party. “This decision is anchored on the transformative policies of the APC-led federal government, the opportunities opened to our region, and the imperative of strategic alignment with the ruling party to secure our fair share of national resources, infrastructure, appointments, and development,” the political leaders said.

To this end, they urged all sons and daughters of Igboland in the five South-eastern states, elsewhere in Nigeria, and in the Diaspora, “to fully embrace the APC as the most effective platform for realising our political, economic and social aspirations.”Although three different political parties control the five Southeastern states, APC leaders warned against “scattering of votes across multiple parties, a practice that has historically diminished our influence and bargaining power”.They insisted that every vote cast by Ndigbo voters, both within and outside the South-East zone, must be for President Tinubu, regardless of any person’s political ambition from the zone.

The political leaders said that they were satisfied with Tinubu’s presidency and commended him for “the significant strides recorded under his administration, especially the focused efforts to bridge long-standing infrastructural gaps in the South-east”.The APC leaders equally noted with satisfaction “the elevation of our sons and daughters to key national positions, and (Tinubu’s) demonstrated commitment to inclusive governance.”

“President Tinubu’s leadership, defined by competence, results, and national cohesion, has earned our deepest respect.“We are convinced that his continued stewardship holds the brightest prospects for accelerated development of our region and the nation as a whole,” the communique explained.

The South-east APC leaders and stakeholders expressed their allegiance to the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, and indeed “the entire governors who have shown manifest visionary guidance, steady statesmanship and consistent defence of the interest of Ndi Igbo at this critical time”.“We pledge our complete loyalty and support to all our five governors as we advance together in support of our visionary President, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu (GCFR, and commander of our gallant armed forces.

“Finally, we commit ourselves irrevocably to mobilising every available human, material and spiritual resources to deliver massive bloc votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across the five South-eastern states in 2027,” the ruling party leaders said.To achieve their political goals for 2027, the political leaders resolved to intensify voter education, registration drives, strengthening of party structure, and unity-building efforts “to ensure an unprecedented victory for our President and, by extension, for the entire South-east”.

They assigned the Governors Mbah and Nwifuru to oversee the supervision and mobilisation of the APC in Anambra State, while the governor of Imo will continue to oversee his state.“We call on all Ndi Igbo to rally with us in this sacred assignment to build a future where our children can prosper in a Nigeria that truly works for all.

“The South-east has spoken with one voice; that voice stands firmly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, and the leadership of our performing governors,” the political leaders said.

Tinubu’s Endorsement a Paradigm Shift Grounded in Pragmatism, Says Mbah

In his address, the Governor of Enugu State, Mbah, described the endorsement of President Tinubu and the increasing alignment of the South-east with the APC as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism.”

He said the region had moved from “standing at the crossroads of history to shaping history itself.”Also speaking, Governor Nwifuru of Ebonyi State expressed confidence that by 2027, all governors in the South-east would be members of the APC. He urged party leaders to embrace reconciliation and sacrifice, noting that the influx of new members required effective internal management rather than further party building.