2027: Senator Umeh vows to mobilise support for Obi, accuses Soludo of betraying Igbo interests
By Sunny A. David, Awka
Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, has declared his readiness to commit his time, energy and resources towards mobilising support for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Umeh, who is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, also criticised Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, over his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing the move as contrary to the political interests of the Igbo people.
The senator made his position known on Friday in Igbakwu, Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, while reacting to Soludo’s endorsement of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
He accused the governor of using his political influence against Obi, a former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate who, according to him, enjoys considerable support across the country.
Umeh also recalled his involvement in Soludo’s emergence as governor in 2021, claiming that he played a significant role in protecting the APGA candidate’s electoral victory against alleged attempts to manipulate the results.
The senator, who served as APGA’s collation agent during the election, said he put his life at risk while challenging what he described as efforts to rig Soludo out of the governorship contest.
He specifically recalled travelling to Ihiala, where he claimed to have confronted military personnel over the alleged plot.
Expressing disappointment over Soludo’s current political position, Umeh argued that the governor should appreciate the support he received from fellow Igbo political leaders rather than oppose Obi’s presidential ambition.
He also faulted Soludo’s November 14, 2022 article in which the governor reportedly predicted that Obi would struggle to secure at least 25 per cent of the votes in more than two states during the 2023 presidential election.
Umeh maintained that Obi’s performance in the 2023 election surpassed the governor’s prediction, urging Soludo to apologise to Nigerians and the Igbo people for what he considered an unfair assessment of the former governor.
Declaring his commitment to Obi’s 2027 ambition, Umeh said he would deploy his political strength and resources to mobilise support for the NDC presidential candidate across the South-East and other parts of the country.
“For this 2027 general election, I will spare nothing in my breath to mobilise Ndigbo to vote for Peter Obi and all Nigerians who are supporting him,” he declared.
The senator further accused Soludo of undermining the traditional Igbo values of brotherhood, solidarity and mutual assistance through his political stance.
To buttress his argument, Umeh recalled the spirit of unity among Igbo people who migrated to northern Nigeria before the civil war, explaining that they often relied on fellow kinsmen for accommodation, settlement and other forms of assistance when they arrived in unfamiliar communities.
He lamented that the spirit of brotherhood, which he described as one of the foundations of Igbo resilience and success, was being weakened by the current political disagreements.
Umeh also insisted that Soludo’s endorsement of Tinubu should not be interpreted as an automatic endorsement by the people of Anambra State, stressing that voters should be allowed to make independent political choices.
He accused the governor of betraying the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state by allegedly opposing Obi’s presidential aspiration.
The senator consequently called on Anambra people to resist any attempt to use the authority of the governorship office to influence their political decisions, insisting that Obi’s popularity should be allowed to speak for itself in the 2027 general election.
“Our people must rise against him,” Umeh declared.
