Minister of Works David Umahi has questioned Peter Obi’s position as a leading presidential contender from the South-East, arguing that the region has other qualified individuals who could aspire to Nigeria’s highest political office.
Umahi made the remarks during an interview with ARISE News on Friday while defending South-East politicians who have chosen to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The minister argued that the political future of the South-East should not be determined by the ambitions of a single individual.
He maintained that any attempt to present a presidential aspiration as the collective interest of the region should involve consultations with governors, established political figures and other influential stakeholders.
His comments come amid ongoing political discussions over the South-East’s representation at the highest level of government and the alliances regional leaders may pursue ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during the interview, Umahi openly rejected the suggestion that Obi was the most qualified presidential candidate the region could offer.
“Peter Obi is not the best of our finest in South-East. He’s not the best; he can never be the best,” he said.
The minister did not identify a specific alternative candidate who, in his assessment, was better qualified than Obi. However, he maintained that the South-East had several political figures whose ambitions and capabilities deserved consideration.
Minister insists on consultation with political leaders
Umahi’s major criticism centred on what he described as the need for presidential aspirants from the South-East to engage established political leaders before claiming to represent the entire region.
According to him, political ambitions involving the collective interests of the South-East should not be pursued without discussions with people who have played significant roles in the region’s political development.
He argued that consultations were necessary to establish a common position and prevent individual ambitions from being mistaken for a decision reached by the region’s political leadership.
“You cannot play politics in South-East without consulting people like us,” Umahi said.
The former Ebonyi governor added that he would have consulted influential regional stakeholders if he had decided to contest the presidency himself.
“If I were contesting, I would have consulted,” he stated.
His position suggests that he considers political consensus an important element of any strategy aimed at securing the presidency for the South-East.
However, his remarks also raise questions about who has the authority to determine the region’s preferred presidential candidate, particularly in a democratic system where individuals can pursue political ambitions through their chosen parties.
Umahi says presidential opportunity should not be limited to Anambra
Beyond his criticism of Obi, the minister challenged the suggestion that Anambra State should have a special claim to produce Nigeria’s president if the South-East eventually secures the opportunity.
He referred to Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president, who hailed from what is now Anambra State, while arguing that the region’s other states should also be considered in discussions about presidential succession.
Umahi specifically mentioned Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo as states whose interests should feature in any arrangement concerning the South-East’s presidential aspirations.
His argument was that the region should not allow the ambition of one state or political figure to overshadow the interests of other states within the geopolitical zone.
The minister also questioned the idea of the South-East settling for only one four-year presidential term, arguing that such a decision had not been collectively agreed upon by the region’s political stakeholders.
“Others are doing 8yrs, but Peter Obi decided that Igbos should do just 4yrs. Who in the South-East reached that agreement with him? Nobody did,” Umahi said.
He subsequently expressed the view that Ebonyi State should be considered if the presidency were to be zoned to the South-East.
“Even if South-East should produce President, it should come from Ebonyi State,” he added.
His comments indicate that discussions about the region’s presidential prospects may extend beyond whether the South-East should produce a president to include which state should be considered and how such a decision should be reached.
Minister defends politicians supporting Tinubu
Umahi also pushed back against suggestions that South-East politicians supporting Tinubu’s re-election were betraying the region by aligning with the president.
He argued that political affiliations should not automatically be interpreted as opposition to regional interests, maintaining that the South-East’s chances of producing a president would depend partly on its relationships with other parts of the country.
According to the minister, building alliances and securing support outside the region would be important considerations in any serious attempt to win a national presidential election.
His defence of South-East politicians supporting Tinubu reflects a different political approach from the expectation that leaders from the region should necessarily unite behind one presidential aspirant.
Umahi’s position is that political negotiations, party alliances and wider national support should form part of the calculations guiding the region’s political decisions.
The minister did not suggest that the South-East would never produce a president. Rather, he expressed confidence that the region would eventually have the opportunity to occupy the nation’s highest political office.
‘It is not yet our turn’
Despite his confidence in the South-East’s future presidential prospects, Umahi maintained that the opportunity had not yet arrived.
“It is not yet our turn,” he said.
The statement underscores his view that the region’s presidential ambition must be considered within the broader realities of Nigeria’s political system rather than treated as an immediate entitlement.
As preparations and political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election continue, questions surrounding regional representation, party loyalty and the search for national alliances are expected to remain part of the political debate.
Umahi’s remarks have added another dimension to discussions about the South-East’s political direction, particularly the disagreement over Obi’s standing and the role regional leaders should play in determining a preferred candidate.
Ultimately, the debate highlights competing approaches to securing the presidency: rallying around an individual candidate or building a broader political consensus that takes account of the region’s internal interests and relationships with other parts of Nigeria.
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