Peter Obi can never be South-East’s best — Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has claimed that Peter Obi cannot be the best presidential candidate from the South-East region, criticizing those who support him over President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with ARISE News, Umahi stated that Obi did not properly consult regional political leaders before announcing his presidential bid in 2023.

He argued that any candidate aiming to represent the South-East should first seek input from governors and other stakeholders in the region. Umahi said, "You cannot play politics in South East without consulting people like us." He also suggested that if he were running for president, he would have consulted regional leaders. Umahi maintained that other qualified politicians from the South-East could run for the presidency and questioned the notion that Obi should be considered the region's strongest candidate based solely on his 2023 election performance.

He also challenged the idea that the presidency should automatically go to Anambra State if the South-East had a chance to elect its own leader. Umahi identified Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, and Imo as states that should have opportunities to produce a presidential candidate from the South-East in future discussions. The minister's comments came as he defended regional political leaders who support Tinubu instead of Obi ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that the South-East's path to the presidency requires political negotiation and alliances with other parts of the country rather than solely backing a specific candidate.