David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works and former governor of Ebonyi State, has dismissed the coalition forming against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, claiming its promoters lack both credibility and transparency.
Umahi, who made the remarks in Abakaliki during the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir celebration with the Muslim community, expressed confidence that Tinubu’s leadership record would secure him a second term in office.
He noted that the President’s developmental efforts and commitment to national unity have positively impacted various parts of the country, particularly the South-East.
The group pushing for a coalition includes high-profile politicians such as ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and Salihu Lukman, a former APC national vice chairman.
Their aim is to present a united opposition to unseat Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential race.
However, Umahi criticized the initiative, arguing that those involved lack the political integrity and public trust needed to form a viable alternative.
He maintained that President Tinubu has shown inclusive leadership by reversing the years of federal neglect previously experienced in the South-East.
“Before now, many states in the South-East had no federal projects. Today, we are witnessing visible development across the region. This is what true national inclusion looks like,” Umahi said.
He also praised Tinubu for appointing key figures from the South-East into top government positions, including himself as Minister of Works, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Minister of Science and Technology.
According to him, these appointments are evidence of the President’s effort to politically reintegrate the region into the national framework.
“We lost out politically in the past, but under this administration, we are being brought back into national relevance. The journey isn’t over, but we’re no longer excluded,” he added.
Umahi urged the South-East to steer clear of divisive politics and instead pursue meaningful engagement with the Federal Government. He stressed the importance of unity and collaboration over alienation.
He said, “We must take the first step before the second. The South-East needs to embrace reintegration, not isolation. President Tinubu has already started this path, and we must not let the opportunity pass.”
The Minister also hailed the President’s efforts in promoting inter-religious understanding, describing them as unprecedented.
He cited Tinubu’s attendance at the Vatican for the Pope’s inauguration as a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and a fresh approach to fostering national unity.