“Any Igbo Man Who Stands Up To Say We Will Not Vote For Peter Obi, He’s An Enemy Of Igbo People” — Umeh

Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has described any Igbo person opposed to the 2027 presidential ambition of Peter Obi as an enemy of the people of the South-East.

Umeh said Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), remained the conscience of the Igbo people in the 2027 general election, warning that anyone campaigning against his ambition would be working against the interests of the region.

The senator made the remarks at an event organised by the Knights of St. John International at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Awka, Anambra State.

A video clip of Umeh making the comments, lasting more than two minutes, was also shared on social media.

“I’m an Igbo activist, you people know me and you hear my voice in the Senate on all issues of national importance. Peter is our conscience in this election,” he said.

“Any Igbo man who stands up to say we will not vote for Peter Obi, I’m telling you that he’s an enemy of Igbo people.”

Umeh also cautioned Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, against taking actions capable of undermining Obi’s presidential ambition, urging him to discharge his responsibilities as governor with honour and nobility.

He said he had played a significant role in Soludo’s emergence as governor and expected him to protect the collective interests of the people rather than engage in political actions against Obi.

“This one (Soludo) that is serving, I was a principal contributor to his ascending to that office. He’s holding that office in trust for all of us. Anything he does in that office; he must discharge it with honour and nobility.”

“It is not by sabotaging our own brother. I’m saying it because anybody who can see him should tell him. We don’t want fight but let him not commit abomination by wanting to destroy his brother in the name of politics,” the senator said.

Soludo had endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027, declaring him the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The governor and Obi, who both previously governed Anambra State, have also exchanged criticisms over Obi’s performance while in office.

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party before joining the NDC to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition.