A top official of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Agbakahi, has explained why the Igbo people will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. According to Agbakahi, the recent endorsement of President Tinubu by South East leaders of the APC has resonated with both party members and non-members in the region.
Speaking on Arise Television’s “Newsday” program, Agbakahi cited the numerous development projects in the region under the current administration as a major factor. He mentioned the reconstruction of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Enugu-Port-Harcourt expressway, and the dualization of the Enugu Ninth-Mile – Makurdi road, as well as the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Agbakahi noted that the Igbo people want to be part of the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics to increase their chances of producing a president in the future. He stated that APC leaders in the region have learned from their mistakes in the 2023 general elections, which led to the party’s poor performance. The division within the party, particularly in Enugu State, contributed to low votes in the region.
The APC chieftain emphasized that the party controls three out of five states in the region, has more National and State Assembly members, and has implemented various projects. He also highlighted the national achievements of the Tinubu administration, including a decrease in inflation rate to 14.45%, an increase in foreign reserves to $47 billion, and a rise in FAAC allocation to N2 trillion.
Agbakahi believes that the APC is the most viable option for the Igbo people to achieve their aspirations, given the current state of other parties. He noted that Nigeria may be heading towards one-party dominance, but not a one-party state, citing examples of countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom where a single party has dominated politics for extended periods.
The endorsement of President Tinubu by South East leaders is seen as a strategic move to ensure the region’s interests are represented in the mainstream of Nigerian politics. With the APC’s efforts to correct past mistakes and the region’s desire to produce a president in the future, the 2027 election is expected to be a crucial test for the party’s fortunes in the South East.
