By Celestine Okeh,
Political stakeholders in Ebonyi State, including religious leaders and traditional rulers, have reportedly endorsed the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was made at a stakeholders' town hall meeting convened by the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, on Sunday at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The motion for the endorsement was moved by pioneer speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and former senator that represented Ebonyi Central, Senator Julius Ali Ucha, and seconded by Senator Anthony Agbo.
It was subsequently put to a voice vote by Umahi, who presided over the meeting in his capacity as convener, and received the support of participants.
The endorsement signals a renewed political mobilisation by APC stakeholders in Ebonyi State to consolidate support for the party's candidates at the presidential, governorship and other elective levels in the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the meeting, Umahi urged religious leaders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and traditional rulers not to remain neutral in the political process but to provide leadership and direction to their followers ahead of the elections.
He argued that the South East must adopt a strategic political approach by supporting President Tinubu's re-election, insisting that the region's quest to produce a Nigerian president would be better served through political cooperation, rather than sentiments and divisive rhetoric.
"I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be Governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN don't keep quiet, let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom," Umahi said.
The former Ebonyi governor also cited federal appointments and infrastructural development in the South East as evidence of the Tinubu administration's commitment to the inclusion of the region in national governance.
He maintained that supporting Tinubu to complete his second term would strengthen the South East's political relationship with other regions and improve its prospects of securing the presidency in the future.
Umahi further called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to guide their communities towards supporting the APC, stressing that political participation by influential institutions was not peculiar to Ebonyi or the South East.
The Minister also defended the political choices of Ebonyi stakeholders, declaring that the state had the right to determine its preferred presidential candidate without being subjected to sentiments or political intimidation.
He criticised what he described as intolerance among some supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, arguing that political differences should not be a basis for insulting or attacking opposing viewpoints.
The town hall meeting brought together political leaders, stakeholders and representatives of various interest groups in Ebonyi State to discuss the political direction of the South East and mobilise support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement of Tinubu, Nwifuru and other APC candidates is expected to further energise the party's mobilisation efforts in Ebonyi State as preparations for the forthcoming elections gather momentum.
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