ENUGU — Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed claims that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represents the finest political candidate or best option for the South-East, declaring that the region possesses far superior leadership talent to drive national development.
Continuing his stakeholder engagements and inspection tour of federal highway projects in Enugu on Friday, October 23, 2026, Umahi stated that political choices in the South-East are undergoing a fundamental shift away from sentiment toward performance-based politics.
The former Ebonyi State governor argued that Obi’s widespread support across the South-East during the 2023 general elections was largely an emotional response to perceived marginalization under the previous administration rather than a reflection of singular political dominance.
“Peter Obi can never be regarded as the best that the South-East has to offer,” Umahi asserted. “Our region is blessed with a vast array of highly accomplished, competent, and vision-driven leaders across various sectors who understand national politics and economic integration. What happened in 2023 was a protest vote born out of historical grievances, but 2027 will be entirely different.”
Umahi maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed the core grievances of the South-East through high-level appointments, key ministerial portfolios, and extensive infrastructure allocations—including major road rehabilitation networks and ongoing legislative efforts to create a sixth state for the region to ensure geopolitical equity.
Calling on Igbo leaders and voters to align with the central government, the minister emphasized that political relevance and long-term economic growth for the South-East can only be secured through strategic alliances rather than opposition politics.
