Governors and party leaders pledge full mobilisation across the five South-East states, citing strategic alignment and federal interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Governors and key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone have formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, pledging to deliver bloc votes across the region’s five states.

The endorsement was announced on Saturday at the South-East APC Stakeholders’ Meeting, tagged “Izu Umunna,” held at the Presidential Hotel in Enugu. The high-level meeting brought together Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah; Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru; as well as party leaders, lawmakers, elders, and other critical stakeholders from the zone.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders declared their “unalloyed, total and unwavering support” for President Tinubu. The document was jointly signed by the three governors, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East) Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, and other party leaders.

The communiqué condemned what it described as ego-driven and divisive politics, warning that fragmented voting patterns had historically weakened the South-East’s influence at the national level. The leaders resolved to resist individual ambitions that could undermine collective regional interests ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Uzodimma stressed the urgency of strategic political alignment, noting that no single region could secure the presidency in isolation. “Politics is pay as you earn,” he said, adding that continued provincial voting would only keep the South-East on the margins of national power. He recalled the region’s poor performance in the 2023 presidential election, where the APC secured roughly six per cent of the vote, compared to between 34 and 54 per cent in other regions.

Uzodimma, however, pointed to the growing presence of the APC in the South-East, now controlling three of the five states and recording gains in Senate and House of Representatives seats. He said these advances must be translated into stronger electoral outcomes in 2027.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah described the endorsement as a pragmatic shift informed by tangible benefits accruing to the region under President Tinubu’s administration. He cited federal interventions such as the revival of the Eastern Railway corridor, gas and energy projects, and the concession of the Enugu Airport to reposition the state as an international aviation hub.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a political slogan,” Mbah said. “It represents a deliberate alignment of vision at the centre with development delivery at the states.”

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru expressed confidence that all South-East governors would be members of the APC by 2027. He called for reconciliation and effective integration of new entrants into the party to strengthen unity and electoral competitiveness.

The motion endorsing Tinubu was moved by former Senate President Pius Anyim and seconded by another former Senate President, Ken Nnamani. Nnamani cautioned that persistent complaints of marginalisation would continue unless the region embraced strategic and inclusive politics. “If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must stand under a shelter,” he remarked.

The stakeholders commended President Tinubu for addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps, appointing Igbo indigenes to key national positions, and promoting inclusive governance. They pledged to deploy human, material, and political resources to ensure massive grassroots mobilisation across states, local governments, and wards, with the governors tasked to coordinate efforts ahead of the 2027 polls.

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