Political scheming deepens in Enugu as Tinubu weighs regional balance, loyalty, and 2027 strategy
Following the sudden resignation of Chief Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, political activities have intensified in Enugu State as several power blocs position themselves to secure the influential ministerial seat.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that among the leading contenders are former Enugu State Governors Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as well as Dr. Davidson Nnamani, a defence strategist and prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While both Chime and Nnamani are APC loyalists, Ugwuanyi remains a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but maintains close ties with President Bola Tinubu through his G-5 alliance, a group of former PDP governors sympathetic to the current administration.
Political sources told DDM that the lobbying for the vacant position has reached fever pitch, with high-level consultations ongoing in Abuja and Enugu.
Several APC stakeholders, including party elders, youth leaders, and serving legislators, have been quietly submitting memos to the Presidency recommending their preferred candidates.
Zoning Politics and Power Balance
Zoning has emerged as the major determining factor in the looming appointment.
Enugu’s political history is sharply divided between the Enugu bloc and the Nsukka bloc, two dominant sub-regions that have traditionally shared major political offices in the state.
Governor Peter Mbah, like his predecessors Geoffrey Onyeama and Uche Nnaji, hails from the Enugu bloc.
This has left the Nsukka zone, which accounts for about 52% of Enugu’s voting population, without a ministerial appointment since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Many political observers argue that ignoring the Nsukka bloc again could fuel resentment and weaken APC’s chances in the 2027 elections, especially in the South-East, where the party is still struggling to gain ground.
The Contenders’ Profiles
Dr. Davidson Nnamani, a PhD holder in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is seen as the dark horse in the race.
Hailing from Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, he belongs to the same senatorial district as the outgoing minister.
A respected academic and security policy expert, Nnamani has previously served as a strategic consultant to several security agencies.
His youthful energy and technocratic background have reportedly endeared him to some presidential advisers seeking a more “technically grounded” cabinet.
Sullivan Chime, who governed Enugu between 2007 and 2015, is renowned for his infrastructural reforms and strict administrative style.
Though a veteran politician, some analysts argue that appointing another Enugu bloc politician could further alienate the Nsukka area and undermine the inclusivity President Tinubu has been preaching.
Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who left office in 2023 after serving two terms as governor, remains a formidable player.
Despite belonging to the opposition PDP, Ugwuanyi’s relationship with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, now one of Tinubu’s key political allies, is seen as his biggest leverage.
Sources close to the G-5 governors told DDM that Wike has been lobbying the Presidency to consider Ugwuanyi as a unifying figure who could ease political tension in the South-East and attract bipartisan support for Tinubu’s government.
Tinubu’s Strategic Calculations
Insiders at the Presidential Villa reveal that President Bola Tinubu is personally reviewing the list of potential nominees from Enugu, aware that the appointment carries deep political significance ahead of 2027.
A senior APC official confided to DDM that, “The President is not just looking for a loyal party man; he wants someone who can consolidate APC’s influence in Enugu and the entire South-East. The region remains critical to his legacy.”
Tinubu is reportedly balancing three key criteria: regional equity, party loyalty, and capacity to deliver results. His advisers are divided between rewarding APC loyalty and building cross-party alliances that can strengthen his national base.
Behind-the-Scenes Lobbying
In the corridors of power, the race has triggered a flurry of meetings and silent deals. Lobbyists from both the APC and PDP have been frequenting Abuja hotels, while political groups in Enugu are issuing public statements endorsing different candidates.
Grassroots movements, especially from Nsukka and Isi-Uzo, have staged solidarity visits to Abuja to demand fair representation, warning that continued marginalization could lead to voter apathy in future elections.
What’s Next
Presidency sources told DDM that the final decision could be announced before the next Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The President is expected to make his choice after receiving formal recommendations from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Chief of Staff to the President, who are reviewing zonal and political considerations.
Political analysts say whichever way the pendulum swings, the appointment will have far-reaching consequences for both Enugu’s internal power dynamics and the APC’s broader political future in the South-East. As one analyst put it:
“This is not just about who replaces Uche Nnaji. It’s about who controls Enugu’s political destiny and who shapes Tinubu’s legacy in the East.”
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