2027 Presidency: Igbo Group Seeks Political Debt Deal — Support Tinubu Now To Obi, South-West Backs Southeast Later
The Southeast chapter of the Renewed Hope for Greater Nigeria (RHGN) says it will lobby leading Igbo statesmen to persuade former Anambra governor Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, join the APC and back President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, The Sun Nigeria reports.
RHGN Southeast leader, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, disclosed this on Saturday in Owerri after a meeting of the group’s leadership, saying the aim is to deliver victory for Tinubu across all polling units in the five Southeast states.
According to Ngoforo, RHGN will approach Ohanaeze Ndigbo under Senator John Azuta Mbata, and elder statesmen including Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe to lead a delegation to Obi.
He said the move is not to diminish Obi’s political profile, but to ask him to prioritise long-term strategic interests of Ndigbo over immediate presidential ticket.
“We believe 2027 should be looked at beyond personal ambition. A broader political bargain can put the Southeast in a stronger position to secure the presidency in the nearest future,” he said.
Ngoforo cited disputes in the Nigerian Democratic Congress over candidate selection in the Southeast, which he argued has weakened the structure Obi would need for presidential campaign.
He also noted that following consultations with northern political leaders, Obi’s reported pledge to serve only one term will not be enough to secure northern support, arguing succession politics are driven by power calculations, not promises of tenure.
He added that the South-South produced Goodluck Jonathan and the Southwest has produced Olusegun Obasanjo and now Tinubu, and with Tinubu limited to this term if re-elected, the Southeast should support Southwest now and build a compact that can deliver when power returns to South.
“The presidency cannot be won by any zone acting alone. Supporting Tinubu’s second term could create a political debt that becomes useful when the Southeast makes its own claim,” Ngoforo said.
RHGN also pointed to policy alignment between Obi and Tinubu administration, specifically removal of fuel subsidy, arguing if Obi agrees with direction of major government policies, there is less reason to seek to displace government.
