‘Obi is nobody, not better than me’ – Umahi

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, describing the former Anambra State governor as “nobody” and insisting that he is not better than prominent South-East politicians.

Umahi also declared that the region had no presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, urging Igbo voters to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The minister made the remarks on Sunday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

He listed former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Education Sam Egwu and former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, among those he said were no less qualified than Obi.

Questioning Obi’s standing among South-East political figures, Umahi said, “Who is Peter Obi better than? Who is he better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of the South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius?”

He added, “We don’t have any presidential candidate in the South-East. We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice.”

Umahi urged religious and traditional leaders in the region to openly support Tinubu rather than remain neutral ahead of the election.

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He argued that supporting Tinubu for another four years would strengthen the South-East’s political position when the region seeks to produce a president.

The minister said the region should pursue its political interests through strategic alliances rather than sentiments and hate speech.

He also defended the Tinubu administration, claiming that the South-East had become more politically integrated and that roads and economic activities in the region were receiving attention.

Umahi further pledged to mobilise 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 elections.

He said Ebonyi had 1.8 million registered voters, adding that failing to deliver 1.3 million votes for the two leaders would amount to a disservice to the state.

The former governor also warned that he would not allow another political party to take control of Ebonyi State, describing those who believed they could defeat Nwifuru as jokers.