Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said it is not yet the turn of the Southeast to produce Nigeria’s next president, urging the region to remain patient in its pursuit of the nation’s highest office.
Umahi stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, stressing the importance of political fairness and continuity ahead of the 2027 elections.
“No, it is not our time; it is not the time of the Southeast yet,” he said. “Before the 2023 election, the 17 Southern governors met in Asaba and agreed that, regardless of political affiliation, the next president should come from the South.
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“All of us tried, but the crown came upon President Bola Tinubu. He is from the South, so it is wrong for the Southeast to now claim it is their turn. Tinubu must be allowed to complete his eight years. Those years are for all Nigerians, both South and North. After 2031, the Southeast can contest, having never held the position before.”
The former Ebonyi State governor added that several individuals are more qualified than those currently making noise about zoning the presidency to the Southeast.
While acknowledging that the region had faced marginalisation in the past, Umahi said that was one of the reasons it was difficult for some governors, including himself, to deliver the zone for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 elections.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
