(DDM) – Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has sparked controversy after declaring that the South-East region will abandon Peter Obi and throw its weight behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Umahi made the remarks during the Ohanivo New Yam Festival in Ebonyi State, where he dismissed the Obidient Movement as irrelevant and claimed Tinubu has restored the region’s sense of political belonging.
According to Umahi, the outcome of the 2023 election was “a mistake” by the people of the South-East, which he argued would not be repeated in 2027.
He assured the gathering that Ebonyi, his home state, remains firmly loyal to Tinubu’s administration and will rally behind him for reelection.
The minister praised Tinubu for what he described as bold steps in infrastructure development and political inclusion, saying the South-East now has a stronger voice at the federal level than in the past.
However, Umahi’s comments immediately triggered backlash from Obidient supporters, particularly in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Grassroots members of the movement swiftly rejected his remarks, describing them as misleading and unrepresentative of the wider sentiments across the region.
In statements shared across community platforms, Obidient supporters argued that Umahi does not speak for the Igbo people, stressing that loyalty to Obi remains widespread and resilient.
They vowed to resist attempts to “sell out” the South-East in the build-up to 2027, insisting the people’s votes cannot be dictated by a few political elites.
“We in Igbo-Etiti and across Enugu are solidly Obidient, and no minister can erase our loyalty to Peter Obi,” one community leader said.
The Obidient Movement, which rose to prominence during the 2023 general elections, has maintained strong grassroots support across Nigeria, particularly in the South-East where Obi secured overwhelming victories.
Political observers note that Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State and one-time member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has long aligned himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in pursuit of national influence.
His declaration is seen by critics as an attempt to curry favor with the presidency while downplaying the enduring popularity of Obi in the region.
Supporters of Obi argue that the 2023 results, where the Labour Party candidate outperformed both APC and PDP across the South-East, remain a clear testament to the people’s political preference.
They warn that dismissing the movement as irrelevant ignores the growing frustrations with Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity, and governance failures, which continue to fuel mass discontent.
Analysts believe Umahi’s remarks may deepen divisions between political elites aligned with Tinubu and the grassroots Obidient network determined to challenge the status quo in 2027.
For now, the pushback from Igbo-Etiti underscores the resilience of the movement in Enugu State, signaling that the battle for the South-East vote is far from settled.
The post Southeast backlash hits Umahi after mocking Obi for Tinubu
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first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
