Why Peter Obi Won South East In 2023 – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has attributed Peter Obi’s overwhelming victory in the South-East during the 2023 presidential election to the perceived marginalisation of the region under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Ebonyi State Governor stated that the political landscape in the South-East has shifted under President Bola Tinubu, expressing confidence that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will sweep all five states in the region come 2027.

Umahi also dismissed concerns regarding the political threat posed by Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections. Noting that Obi is no longer the sole contender from the region, Umahi pointed out that multiple aspirants from the South-East are contesting across different political platforms.

“By the way, it is not only Peter Obi that is from the South-East that is contesting. We have about three or four other presidential candidates who are contesting,” Umahi said.

“We have the Labour Party and I think there are other two, even a woman is involved. So, Peter Obi is not a threat as far as I am concerned.”

While clarifying that he was not underestimating the former Anambra State governor, the minister emphasized that the APC-led Federal Government’s delivery on infrastructure and strategic appointments would serve as its primary selling point in the South-East.

Reflecting on the 2023 polls, where Obi won across the five South-Eastern states, Umahi characterized the outcome as a protest vote against political exclusion by the previous administration.

“I will not blame the South-East in the last election because, virtually, we were not fairly treated by the past administration. Service chiefs, we got none; major ministerial portfolios, we got none. And so, the marginalisation continued, and they even increased at that point. And so you will not totally blame them for that,” Umahi explained.

He asserted that President Tinubu has corrected the regional imbalance by appointing South-East figures to prominent cabinet positions.

“But now, the story is totally different. I’m the Minister of Works; we have never had a Minister of Works before. We have a Minister of Foreign Affairs; we have a Minister of Science and Industry. We are very happy with the appointments we’ve got. They’re very happy. Now, we have done quite a lot,” he added.

Umahi’s remarks come as political parties and key stakeholders align their strategies ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections.