Uzodimma Rallies South East APC Stakeholders Behind Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election——Ohakim, Anyim, Nnamani Lead Regional Endorsement Push

Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has rallied party leaders and stakeholders across the region to unite behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the task as a collective political responsibility critical to the South East’s relevance in Nigeria’s power equation.

Uzodimma made the call on Saturday, January 10, 2026, while addressing APC stakeholders from the five South East states at a high-level meeting held at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu. The meeting attracted serving and former governors, ranking National Assembly members, party leaders, ministers, and other critical stakeholders of the APC in the region.

Notably, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, emerged as one of the key elder statesmen whose presence and political weight underscored the strategic importance of the gathering, reinforcing the growing convergence of South East political heavyweights around the APC and the Tinubu administration.

Speaking in his capacity as APC South East leader and a “Renewed Hope Ambassador,” Governor Uzodimma said President Tinubu had entrusted the responsibility of securing electoral victory in the region to party leaders, stressing that success in 2027 would depend on shared commitment and coordinated action.

“In practical political terms, this enormous responsibility is not mine alone; it is yours. A responsibility for one of us is a responsibility for all of us,” Uzodimma declared.

He explained that the meeting was convened to allow South East leaders to reflect honestly on past electoral outcomes and to reposition the zone more strategically within Nigeria’s national political architecture.

Uzodimma expressed concern over the region’s voting pattern in the 2023 presidential election, describing it as politically disadvantageous and limiting. He noted that while the APC secured substantial votes across other geopolitical zones, the South East contributed only a marginal share, making the region predictable and easily sidelined at the centre.

“When you become predictable in the game of power, it is easy to ignore you,” he warned.

However, the Imo Governor said political realities in the South East were changing rapidly, pointing to the steady growth of the APC since 2023. He highlighted the Party’s increasing control of elective offices across the zone, including governorships, Senate seats, House of Representatives positions, state assemblies, and local government councils.

“In the House of Representatives alone, we moved from eight members to 23—nearly a 200 per cent increase. These numbers show that the APC is gaining the confidence of leaders and grassroots supporters in the South East,” Uzodimma said.

He added that no serious politician aligns with a party without a future, arguing that the growing influx of experienced leaders—such as former governors including Chief Ikedi Ohakim—into APC activities reflects confidence in the party’s long-term prospects at both regional and national levels.

Uzodimma stressed that the major challenge ahead was to convert elite support into mass electoral votes in 2027, insisting that the South East must deliver votes commensurate with its growing political strength.

Declaring his personal support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid, Uzodimma said the President deserved the opportunity to complete ongoing economic and security reforms, despite the initial hardships associated with them.

He cited improvements in national security, currency stability, access to student loans, and infrastructure development as indicators that the administration’s policies were beginning to yield results.

“The reforms came with discomfort, but today our currency is stabilising, security is improving, and our children can go to school without barriers,” he said.

According to him, supporting Tinubu’s re-election would strategically position the South East for future negotiations, including the long-standing aspiration of producing a President from the region.

“Politics is about give and take. If we support the President to complete his tenure, we are building a bridge our children will cross when it is our turn,” Uzodimma stated.

He urged stakeholders to adopt a formal resolution committing South East APC structures—across states, local governments, and wards—to mobilising votes for President Tinubu in 2027.

The endorsement process was formally set in motion when former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, moved a motion endorsing President Tinubu for a second term on behalf of South East leaders. The motion was seconded by another former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, symbolising rare bipartisan unity among the region’s most influential political figures.

Former Governor Chief Ikedi Ohakim, alongside other elder statesmen, lent strong moral and political support to the resolution, reinforcing the consensus that strategic engagement, rather than political isolation, is essential for the South East’s future relevance.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, also addressed the gathering, urging leaders to abandon sentimental politics in favour of strategic, numbers-driven alliances capable of restoring the region’s influence at the centre.

He warned that isolation and sectional thinking would further weaken the South East’s bargaining power, arguing that collaboration with the current southern-led administration offers the most practical path to national relevance.

Kalu commended President Tinubu’s reforms, noting that increased national revenue and improved federal allocations were already benefiting South East states. He urged APC stakeholders to intensify membership drives and voter registration ahead of 2027, stressing that political strength depends on numbers, inclusion, and effective grassroots mobilisation.

Earlier, APC National Vice Chairman (South East), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, highlighted what he described as the positive outcomes of Tinubu’s economic reforms. He said Nigeria’s stock market had recorded significant growth, petroleum product prices were beginning to decline, and the country had emerged as a leading exporter of aviation fuel—signs, he argued, of a strengthening economy.

While acknowledging current challenges, Arodiogbu urged Nigerians, particularly APC supporters, to remain patient and confident that the administration’s policies were steering the country in the right direction. He later read the communiqué articulating the collective position of the stakeholders.

Other speakers at the meeting included the host Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mba, and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru.

The meeting was attended by the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Enukwu; serving federal legislators; ministers; former governors including Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and a broad spectrum of APC stakeholders from across the South East.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser (Media)
to the Governor