David Umahi predicts a South-East voting shift in 2027, citing Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and appointments across the region

Minister of Works David Umahi has predicted that voters in the South-East will support President Bola Tinubu differently in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that federal infrastructure projects and political appointments have changed the region’s relationship with the administration.

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Umahi made the prediction in an interview with ARISE News published on Friday, describing the region’s overwhelming support for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election as an “accident of history”.

He attributed the voting pattern to anger over what he described as the region’s marginalisation under the previous administration.

“In 2023, it was an accident of history. It was a demonstration of the anger of the people of South East on how they were treated,” he said.

The former Ebonyi State governor added that he believed the situation had changed under Tinubu.

“We’ve been marginalised in the past, but it’s no longer so,” Umahi said.

“If in 2023 they demonstrated their anger, in 2027 they are going to demonstrate their joy on how the President has treated them,” he added.

The minister said federal road projects and other investments in the South-East were reasons voters might reconsider their political choices in 2027.

He also claimed that serving and former governors, traditional rulers and other influential figures in the region were increasingly aligning with Tinubu.

Umahi argued that voters would be reluctant to abandon what he described as infrastructure gains for another political “gamble”.

However, his prediction reflects his own assessment of the region’s political mood.

The interview did not establish how voters currently intend to vote in 2027.

Umahi rejected suggestions that South-East political leaders supporting Tinubu were betraying the region or Obi, arguing that the region’s political interests should not be permanently tied to one candidate.

He also criticised social media supporters who insult regional leaders for backing the President, saying such attacks would not advance Obi’s political interests or those of the South-East.

The minister maintained that the region needed to negotiate and build alliances with other parts of Nigeria if it hoped to produce a president in the future.

Asked whether he believed Tinubu would defeat Obi in the South-East in 2027, Umahi responded confidently: “Why do you say I believe? That is what is going to happen!”

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His comments come as political alignments and debates over regional representation begin to shape discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.