It’s Not Yet the Southeast’s Turn to Produce President — Min. Of Works, David Umahi

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the Southeast to remain patient in its pursuit of the Nigerian presidency, saying it is not yet the region’s turn.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, Umahi emphasized the need for political fairness, balance, and continuity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“No, it is not our time; it is not the time of the Southeast yet,” Umahi said. “Before the 2023 elections, the 17 southern governors met in Asaba and agreed that power should shift to the South, regardless of political party. We all tried, and the crown came upon President Bola Tinubu. He is from the South, and it would be wrong for the Southeast to now say it is their turn.”

According to Umahi, President Tinubu’s tenure represents the mandate of the entire southern region and must be completed before another southern zone can lay claim to the presidency. “He has to finish his eight years. When he does in 2031, the Southeast can then vie for the position, having never produced a president before,” he said.

The former Ebonyi State governor also acknowledged that the Southeast has faced marginalization in the past, a factor he said made it challenging for some leaders in the region, including himself, to deliver strong support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 elections.

He added that the region is blessed with many “eminently qualified” individuals who would be better positioned to contest when the time is right.