Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed doubts about Peter Obi's chances of winning the 2027 presidential election. According to Umahi, stronger political engagement in the South-East region could weaken Obi's support base. He made these comments in Abuja while receiving a report from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on its inspection of federal roads across the country. Umahi emphasized the need for political and community leaders in the South-East to communicate more effectively with residents about the achievements of President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Umahi argued that increased voter awareness would negatively impact Obi's electoral support. He urged leaders in the South-East to be more vocal about the President's accomplishments, particularly in the region. The Minister claimed that the Tinubu administration had done more for the South-East than previous federal governments in terms of appointments, political inclusion, and infrastructure development. He cited examples of projects approved by the President to improve connections between the South-East and other parts of the country.
The Minister commended Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his support of President Tinubu and appealed to Nigerians to respect those who back the President. Soludo recently confirmed that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was cooperating with the Tinubu-led Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor said the arrangement was built around shared development priorities, and his party had endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
Soludo praised Tinubu after the President approved the design and procurement of two highway projects intended to improve connections between the South-East and other parts of the country. The projects include the proposed dualisation of the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji road between Anambra and Kogi states, and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube road linking Anambra and Imo. Soludo met Tinubu on July 1 to discuss infrastructure priorities, and the Anambra State Government submitted project details on July 3.
Umahi also addressed the financing of federal road projects, stating that the government would fund 30 per cent of legacy projects, while loans would cover the remaining 70 per cent and be repaid through tolling. He expressed concerns about vandalism and dangerous driving on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, alleging that some people were removing iron used for road demarcation and stealing manhole covers, while motorists were driving at excessive speeds.
The Minister received a report from NANS President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, who submitted the students' report on the North-West phase of the association's nationwide road assessment. Afeez said the inspection covered Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, and the roads visited included the Kano-Maiduguri, Kano-Katsina, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Mando-Birnin Gwari, Sokoto-Badagry, and Illela-Dukamaje routes. NANS recommended a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College in Kaduna to protect students and other road users.
The developments have sparked reactions from various stakeholders, with some welcoming the government's efforts to improve infrastructure and others expressing concerns about the potential impact on the 2027 presidential election. As the country prepares for the next electoral cycle, politicians and stakeholders are positioning themselves for the contest. The government's efforts to engage with residents and improve infrastructure are seen as crucial factors that could influence the outcome of the election.
Key points
- Umahi dismisses Peter Obi's chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.
- The Minister cites stronger political engagement in the South-East as a factor that could weaken Obi's support base.
- The government has approved several infrastructure projects to improve connections between the South-East and other parts of the country.
