Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has dismissed suggestions that former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi could pose a major challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Umahi made the comment during an appearance on Channels Television’s sunday Politics, where he argued that Obi is not the only presidential contender from the South-East.
The former Ebonyi State governor said several other candidates from the region would also be participating in the 2027 contest.
“Peter Obi is not a threat as far as I am concerned,” Umahi said, while noting that his assessment should not be interpreted as an attempt to underestimate Obi.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, won all five South-East states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
However, Umahi expressed confidence that the political situation in the region had changed under Tinubu.
He attributed the APC’s poor showing in the South-East during the 2023 election partly to what he described as the marginalisation of the region under the previous administration.
According to him, the appointment of South-East politicians to prominent positions in the current Federal Government, alongside infrastructure projects in the region, could improve the APC’s chances in 2027.
Umahi also expressed optimism that the ruling party could make significant gains across the South-East, even suggesting that the APC could win all five states in the region.
The minister further said he believed the South-East should look beyond regional politics and assess presidential candidates based on their records and achievements.
With political parties already intensifying preparations for the 2027 election, the South-East is expected to remain a major battleground as contenders seek to win over voters in the region.
