The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s path to victory in the 2027 presidential election lies in securing the support of the Southeast, as the North has withdrawn its backing.
In a statement on Monday, the Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that the political dynamics that favored Tinubu in 2023 have shifted, with Northern politicians now aligning with leaders from the Southeast and Niger Delta. He cautioned that unless the federal government takes urgent steps to address pressing national concerns, growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians could strengthen opposition efforts to unseat the president.
“The candid truth must be conveyed to President Tinubu: unless critical federal government policies are rapidly reversed, and the requisite corrective measures implemented with the utmost urgency, the suffering populace of Nigeria will likely resonate with the sentiments being propagated by the coalition of opposition politicians, predominantly led by Northern leaders, to effect a change in leadership in the impending 2027 elections,” Isiguzoro said.
He urged the federal government to reassess its approach by conducting a credible national census in 2025 that includes ethnicity and religious identity. According to him, this would help address long-standing concerns and contribute to national stability.
Isiguzoro also called on the president to prioritize key projects in the Southeast, including the full utilization of the Port Harcourt Seaport, the construction of a deep seaport in Azumiri, Abia State, and the upgrading of the Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu-Maiduguri railway.
“As the landscape shifts and political allegiances realign, it is imperative that President Tinubu recognizes the pivotal role that the Igbo Nation can play in restructuring Nigeria’s future,” he added.
He maintained that only a genuine commitment to addressing the needs of the Southeast would foster the political support Tinubu needs to secure re-election in 2027.