Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the south-east have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, pledging to mobilise bloc votes across the region for the ruling party in the 2027 general election.

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, alongside Peter Mbah of Enugu and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, led the endorsement.

“What could be more momentous than a motion that heralds the adoption of President Tinubu as the consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, given the growth and stability our economy has witnessed under the Renewed Hope administration, which has in turn stimulated progressive expansion across other critical sectors,” Uzodimma said.

The endorsement was announced at the south-east APC stakeholders’ meeting tagged ‘Izu Umunna’ in Enugu.

Party leaders, lawmakers, and elders from the zone resolved to fully align with the ruling party at the centre.

They described the decision as a shift towards pragmatic and interest-driven politics.

In a statement by the media office of the Enugu governor, the leaders said they would resist the balkanisation of the region’s votes by individual ambitions.

They warned that such actions had historically weakened the south-east’s bargaining power at the national level.

Uzodimma, chairman of the South-East governors’ forum, said the region could no longer afford political isolation.

He said Tinubu had placed faith in the south-east ahead of 2027.

“Politics is pay as you earn,” Uzodimma said.

“No zone can produce a president alone. If we continue to vote provincially, we will remain on the sidelines of national power.”

Uzodimma recalled that the zone contributed about six per cent of votes to the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

He said the figure weakened the region’s influence compared with other zones that delivered between 34 and 54 per cent of votes.

The Imo governor said the APC now controls three of the five south-east states.

He said the party’s representation in the Senate has increased from six to eight seats.

Uzodimma added that the APC’s seats in the House of Representatives in the region have grown from eight to 23.

“These numbers give us hope, but they also give us a challenge. The growth among leaders must reflect at the ballot box in 2027,” he said.

Mbah described the endorsement as a “paradigm shift grounded in pragmatism”.

He said the decision was driven by tangible gains accruing to the region through alignment with the federal government.

Mbah cited the revival of the eastern railway corridor, gas and energy projects, and the concession of the Enugu airport.

He said the interventions would position Enugu as an international gateway to the south-east.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is beyond a political slogan,” Mbah said.

“It is about aligning vision at the centre with delivery at the states.”

Nwifuru expressed confidence that all South-East governors would be APC members by 2027.

He urged party leaders to embrace reconciliation and manage the influx of new members effectively.

A motion endorsing Tinubu for a second term was moved by Pius Anyim, former Senate president.

The motion was seconded by Ken Nnamani, another former Senate president.

“If you cry in the rain, nobody notices you. If you want to avoid the rain, you must stand under a shelter,” Nnamani said.

At the end of the meeting, a communiqué signed by governors and stakeholders declared Tinubu the APC’s sole presidential candidate for 2027.

The communiqué rejected what it described as ego-driven and divisive politics.

Leaders pledged to deploy human, material and political resources to deliver bloc votes for Tinubu across the five south-east states.

Other attendees included Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ikedi Ohakim, senators, lawmakers and party elders from the zone.

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed reports suggesting that he recently declared his intention to contest the presidency.

Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Baba-Ahmed clarified that his comments had been misinterpreted, stressing that no such declaration was made.

“I never declared to contest the presidency two days ago,” he said.

According to him, his recent public remarks were limited to reaffirming his membership of the Labour Party, amid growing political discussions about the future direction of the party and its key figures. He acknowledged that while political possibilities may exist in the future, no announcement or decision has been made at this time.

The clarification comes after widespread media and social media reports claimed that Baba-Ahmed was positioning himself for a presidential run ahead of the next general election. The reports sparked debate among supporters and political observers, many of whom viewed his comments as a signal of ambition.

Explaining further, Baba-Ahmed said, “Two days ago, what I did was simply say that I remain in the Labour Party. I never declared to contest the presidency, even though there could be a possibility of that happening. I certainly did not declare for the presidency. I reiterated my membership of the Labour Party, and that is all.”

He added that any declaration of interest would depend on the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable and the party’s internal processes.

“The submission I made was that one will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest. I did not declare,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised the role of social media in amplifying misinformation, urging professional media organisations to ensure accuracy.

“It is unfortunate that social media can be so sensational, putting out wrong narratives to emotional listeners. I believe formal media like yours should serve as filters and barriers so that the general public can always consume the correct information,” he said.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has begun impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.

During plenary presided over by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, according to a live broadcast on Channels Television on Thursday, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.

Twenty-six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly signed the notice, which they alleged was against the Nigerian Constitution.

Amaewhule said the notice will be served to Fubara in the next seven days.

The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Oduh.

More to follow…