Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that leaders and stakeholders in the South-East are set to adopt President Bola Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Umahi disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects across Ebonyi State over the weekend, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Francis Nwaze.
The minister used the occasion to commend what he described as the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East, insisting that the region was witnessing unprecedented attention under President Tinubu’s administration.
According to Umahi, the people of the South-East have taken notice of the projects being executed in the region and are prepared to demonstrate their appreciation through political support for the President.
“South-East are very appreciative of what the President is doing. By Monday, under the leadership of the Governor of Ebonyi State, we will demonstrate this appreciation when we adopt the President as our sole candidate,” he said.
Speaking during the inspection, Umahi highlighted several ongoing federal projects in Ebonyi State and across the South-East, describing them as evidence of inclusion, fairness and development under the current administration.
At sections of the Calabar-Abuja highway project, the minister explained the strategic importance of a flyover being constructed along the Trans-Saharan Super Highway corridor.
“Let me say that this is the point where the Trans-Saharan Route takes a bend. The essence of this flyover is to resolve the conflict at this point,” he stated.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had made provisions in the 2026 budget to connect the corridor directly to the Ebonyi State capital.
“The road going to the capital city, which is 18 kilometres from this point, is included in the 2026 budget, and the Federal Government will undertake the connection to the city centre,” he said.
The minister acknowledged funding challenges affecting some ongoing projects but assured contractors that the Federal Government remained committed to meeting its obligations.
“Of course, the contractor has not been paid, but we are creditworthy. All contractors being owed will be paid.
There should be no stoppage of work because we want to see if we can commission this project by December. The cost is ₦25 billion,” he added.
Umahi maintained that the projects currently underway represented only a fraction of what the Tinubu administration intends to deliver in the South-East.
“This is just the beginning. You will see remarkable projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-East.
When we talk about the gains of the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some people who do not understand what we are talking about will continue to criticize us,” he said.
The minister also made remarks on the political direction of Ebonyi State and the wider South-East, declaring that the region would not return to the voting pattern witnessed during previous elections.
“Let it be known that Ebonyi State is not obedient because we want to catch up with the rest of the country, and we will never be obedient. What happened before was an accident of history. It will not repeat itself,” Umahi stated.
His comments come amid growing political activities and consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, with political parties and key stakeholders already positioning themselves for the next electoral cycle.