Umahi Says Peter Obi Is Not a Threat to Tinubu Ahead of 2027

Minister of Works Dave Umahi has said Peter Obi does not pose a threat to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Umahi made the comment during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he noted that Obi is not the only presidential aspirant from the South-East. He said several other candidates from the region are also seeking the presidency.

“Peter Obi is not a threat as far as I am concerned,” Umahi said, while acknowledging that the former Anambra State governor remains a contender in the election.

The minister said he was confident that Tinubu could win across the South-East in 2027. He argued that the APC’s performance under Tinubu would help the party attract voters in a region where Obi, then running under the Labour Party, won all five states in the 2023 presidential election.

Umahi attributed the APC’s poor showing in the South-East in 2023 partly to what he described as the marginalisation of the region under the previous administration. He cited the absence of South-East representation in some key positions as part of the reason voters turned away from the ruling party.

According to the former Ebonyi governor, the situation has changed under Tinubu, pointing to his appointment as Minister of Works and the presence of other South-East figures in senior government positions. He said the region is now receiving better representation and that the administration has carried out several projects there.

Umahi’s comments come amid intensified political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Obi, who is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has continued his campaign and mobilisation efforts, including calls for voters to protect their ballots and ensure that votes are counted.