The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Enugu State has cautioned the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi against threatening the South-East to overwhelmingly vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) or risk the continuation of major federal infrastructure projects across the region.

Enugu ADC stated that even at gunpoint, the people of the region will still not vote for President Tinubu, because his government aggravated the marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria.  

The party spoke against the backdrop of comments made by the former Governor of Ebonyi State on Wednesday, while inspecting federal road and bridge projects in Ebonyi State.

According to media reports, Umahi urged the South-East to vote for President Tinubu overwhelmingly, warning that failure to do so, could jeopardize the continuation of major federal infrastructure projects across the region.

He argued that the South-East has regained relevance in national politics under the current administration, citing his appointment as the Minister of Works and the scale of projects spread across the region.

Reacting in a strong-worded press statement on Sunday, the Secretary of ADC in Enugu State, Comrade Adolphus Ude expressed serious disapproval over the comments credited to Umahi, describing his utterances as reckless, unwarranted and irresponsible.

Ude who was the founding Deputy Chairman of APC in Enugu State, reprimanded Umahi for attempting to use intimidation, force and strong-arm tactics to secure victory for his principal, President Tinubu in the South-East region.

The Enugu ADC scribe noted that  the people of the South-East are known to be independent minded when it comes to voting in elections, warning that no form of coercion or threat can make them to vote for a candidate who is not their choice.

He upbraided Umahi for claiming that President Tinubu has addressed the marginalisation of the South-East, whereas in actual fact, the exclusion of the region has been aggravated under the current administration.

Quoting part of the press statement:  “Enugu ADC challenges Umahi to go beyond making outrageous claims, to state in clear terms the major infrastructure projects going on across the South-East, to warrant the region to vote overwhelming for President Tinubu in 2027.

“Umahi should name the location of the major infrastructure projects of the Tinubu government in the South-East and their worth in monetary terms. Regarding allocation of infrastructure projects, no government has marginalised the South-East more than the current administration.

“No part of the South East was considered, even as a bypass for the two major road infrastructure projects of the Tinubu government, namely, the controversial multi-trillion Naira Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway. These are brand new road projects.  

“The so-called major infrastructure projects of Umahi in the South-East are abandoned projects from previous federal governments, some dating back to the era of the PDP, before the APC government inherited them.

“As of today, there is no visible new infrastructure project being executed by the Tinubu government anywhere in the South East. The long anticipated dredging of River Niger is not going on. The South-East does not have a rail line. So, where are the infrastructure projects that will be jeopardized if the South-East fails to vote for Tinubu?

“Besides, Umahi cannot claim that he is not aware that the South East is the only region that its passport issuing machines have been deactivated, compelling Igbos who want to get travel passports to rely solely on Abuja.”   

Speaking further, Ude equally dismissed the claim by Umahi that the South-East regained relevance in national politics under the current Tinubu administration, warning the Minister to learn to draw a line between his personal interests and the interest of the entire region.

Describing the marginalisation of the South-East under the Tinubu government as “unprecedented” the Enugu ADC scribe noted that the region is the only region that has five Ministers in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), out of which three are junior Ministers, whereas Ogun State alone has four Ministers.

Ude insisted that the South-East owed President Tinubu nothing, having been grossly excluded by his administration in the allocation of federal infrastructure, intervention funds and appointments.

Continuing, Ude recalled that in 2023, Tinubu lost woefully in all the five South East states, namely Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, scoring less than 10 percent of the total votes cast.

According to him, in spite of all the bravado of Dave Umahi as the then-Governor of Ebonyi State, Tinubu could not get up to 13 percent of the votes in his state during the last presidential election.

He maintained that nothing has happened under the Tinubu administration to guarantee a turn of events for the ruling party in the South-East during the coming 2027 elections.

Consequently, Ude asked Umahi to withdraw the threat to the South East to vote for Tinubu or risk continuation of federal projects, and tender an unreserved apology to Ndigbo for talking down on them. 

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday elected Oladipupo Adebutu as its governorship candidate for the forthcoming 2027 gubernatorial election.

Chairman of the Election Committee and national representative, Ariyo Afolabi, made the announcement on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Afolabi noted that after the collation of results from the 236 wards across the 20 local government areas of the state, the sole aspirant, Oladipupo Adebutu, emerged as the governorship candidate of the party.

“The Ogun State governorship electoral panel hereby declares Honourable Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu as the winner and consensus candidate,” he added.

In his acceptance speech, Adebutu appreciated all leaders, stakeholders, and members of the party for reposing their trust in him.

He appealed to every member of the party to continue to operate within the ambience of peaceful conduct, stressing that it is the only way to reclaim the state.

Adebutu said, “Fellow party members, I humbly accept this call to serve with an enormous sense of responsibility, knowing fully well that the 2027 election is a must-win for us to make yet another historic statement.

“Our victory lies largely in working together assiduously as one united party and people to convince the electorate why we are a better alternative to the failed APC administration.

“I wish to appeal to every member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State to continue to operate within the ambience of peaceful conduct, which has brought us to where we are today. Peaceful coexistence is the only assurance that can guarantee our reclaiming of Ogun State from the hands of the clueless APC government and its allies,” he added.

Also speaking, a two-term former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, congratulated Adebutu on his emergence as the party’s candidate for Ogun State, noting that the large turnout of party faithful portrayed hope for the party.

Meanwhile, Ogun State PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella, said the time for action had come and that the party had already begun preparations.

Tella congratulated the governorship candidate and other winners of the primary, noting that their participation showed genuine commitment to the party.

Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, an aspirant for the Taraba Central Senatorial District seat, has announced his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial race ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bodejo also declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and Senator Haruna Manu in their respective political bids.

The announcement was made on Sunday through the Director-General of his campaign council, Alhaji Adamu Isa, who said Bodejo had directed all his supporters to rally behind the trio in the 2027 elections to enable them continue delivering democratic dividends to the people of Taraba State and Nigeria at large.

According to Isa, Bodejo’s ambition to contest the senatorial seat was never intended to antagonise any individual, but rather to contribute to the ongoing development efforts in Taraba Central senatorial district.

He noted that Governor Kefas and Senator Manu had already initiated programmes aimed at improving the welfare of the people and deserved the support of the electorate in the forthcoming elections.

Isa further disclosed that Bodejo would remain a loyal member of the APC, describing him as a founding member of the party who remains committed to supporting its success alongside his followers.

Bodejo also stressed that politics should not be seen as a “do-or-die affair,” adding that he was prepared to abide by the rules guiding the democratic process.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and mobilise massively for the APC during the 2027 general elections.