By Chukwudi Obasi
The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said the failure of several All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the Southeast to meet the expectations of Ndigbo is weakening the party’s political standing in the region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The organisation, however, singled out the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, as an exception, saying his performance has provided tangible evidence of the Tinubu administration’s attention to the Southeast.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and the Acting Secretary-General, Prof. Chibuikeya Achoakawa. They said that without the federal projects being executed in the region, the APC would have a more difficult task convincing Ndigbo to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Ohanaeze said political endorsements, party meetings and public declarations could not substitute for measurable performance and meaningful engagement with the electorate.
According to the organisation, the APC’s political challenge in the Southeast stems partly from the failure of its regional leaders to build public confidence, address longstanding grievances and demonstrate that the interests of Ndigbo receive serious consideration within the party and the Federal Government.
It said Ndigbo had historically shown willingness to support presidential candidates across political and regional lines when they perceived credible opportunities for national inclusion and mutual benefit.
The organisation cited the support given to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, saying such experiences demonstrated the importance of trust, political engagement and a convincing national vision.
Ohanaeze said the APC could not expect a different electoral outcome in 2027 merely by relying on declarations by its Southeast leaders. It noted that the elections of 2015, 2019 and 2023 demonstrated that political endorsements did not automatically translate into votes.
The organisation also raised concerns over allegations of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency in local government administration across the region.
It called for a transparent investigation into allegations of diversion or mismanagement of local government funds, including claims involving approximately N6 trillion in allocations to the Southeast’s 95 local government areas.
Ohanaeze stressed that such allegations required verifiable evidence and appropriate investigation, insisting that public funds must be managed according to the law and for the benefit of the communities concerned.
The organisation said Umahi’s role had given the APC a tangible record with which to engage voters in the region, but stressed that his performance alone could not resolve the party’s broader political challenges.
It urged APC leaders to explain their records to the electorate and demonstrate accountability rather than assume that party loyalty would guarantee electoral support.
Ohanaeze called on President Tinubu and the Federal Government to initiate direct and constructive engagement with Ndigbo before the 2027 election, saying the Southeast had legitimate concerns over national inclusion, economic opportunities, security and political representation.
It also cautioned opposition presidential candidates, including Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, against assuming that Ndigbo would automatically support them because of their political affiliations or previous electoral performances.
The organisation said the Igbo electorate deserved substantive proposals, credible leadership and demonstrable commitments from every political party seeking its votes.
Ohanaeze concluded that the APC’s prospects in the Southeast would depend less on political declarations and more on its ability to rebuild trust, promote accountability and demonstrate that the region matters to the administration.
“The message to the APC is unmistakable: Ndigbo expect performance, accountability and inclusion—not political assumptions,” the organisation said.
