Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has stated that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is not a prerequisite for the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday night, Umahi dismissed speculations that the South-East had set conditions—particularly Kanu’s release—for backing the President in the upcoming general elections.
“Someone asked me about Nnamdi Kanu, and I made it clear—his case is not a condition for the South-East to support President Tinubu,” Umahi said. “We are open to dialogue and negotiation for his release, but no one should frame it as a political condition. After all, the President did not detain him.”
Describing President Tinubu as a responsive and reform-driven leader, Umahi expressed optimism that Kanu’s situation would be resolved through dialogue and divine intervention rather than political pressure.
“President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is getting a lot of things right,” Umahi continued. “Consider the state of the economy he inherited—now the international community is showing renewed confidence in Nigeria because of the reforms he’s implementing. That’s why we are receiving support for our infrastructure projects.”
Highlighting several ongoing federal infrastructure developments in the South-East, Umahi praised Tinubu’s administration for reviving roads and projects that had been neglected by past governments.
“To those criticizing the President, let them point to what they have done for the country,” he challenged.
Umahi also rejected the narrative that the South-East is being marginalized in federal appointments, asserting that the region has benefited more under President Tinubu than under many previous administrations.
He emphasized the growing collaboration between South-East governors and the federal government, noting that even opposition-party leaders in the region are working productively with the President.
“I’m not running for president in 2027,” Umahi declared. “I’m focused on supporting my boss, President Tinubu. APC is the platform for real progress. The South-East now has a voice at the centre, and we’re not going back to Egypt.”
