A faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Prince Richard Ozobu, has adopted President Bola Tinubu as its consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The decision was contained in a communique issued in the aftermath of the faction’s 2025 annual Igbo Day celebrations with the theme ‘Igbo Ekunie’. THE WHISTLER gathered that the event began in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and ended on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The communique was signed by Prince Richard Ozobu, Chief Jackson Omenazu, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chibuikeya Achoakawa, Chief Chinenyeze, Professor Mrs Nneoma Ukpabi, and Chief Alex Okemiri.
A part of the communique read, “In the acknowledgement of the Igbo nation’s recognition of President Bola Tinubu’s government, which has made strides to favour the Igbo despite electoral opposition, we extend an earnest handshake of peace to Afenifere and other Yoruba leaders, affirming our commitment to end this 73-year rivalry.
“Ndigbo recognise President Tinubu for his steadfast commitment and strategic efforts to strengthen the nation’s economy through the inclusion of Nigeria in the BRICS bloc. We commend his administration for addressing the long-standing infrastructural deficits plaguing our nation, and we acknowledge his dedication to resolving the prevailing insecurity in the Southeast, as well as the urgent need to rectify the region’s historically neglected infrastructure.
“President Tinubu stands as the first Nigerian leader to prioritise the Southeast and the Igbo Nation, despite the region’s rejection of his candidacy in the 2023 elections. His attentiveness to road projects, infrastructure, and good governance signifies a clear deviation from previous administrations, which habitually neglected and strategically excluded the Southeast.”
The faction also commended Tinubu for “his ambitious ₦5tn road project initiative in the Southeast”.
The faction therefore resolved that “it is the unified decision of Ndigbo, in concert with Southeast governors and serving ministers, to suspend support for the opposition and rally behind President Tinubu’s government for a full eight-year term.”
It also called for the rapid release of funds designated for the construction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri standard gauge railway, which was recently approved by the federal government.
The faction also made a case for the resuscitation of critical infrastructure in the region, including the Enugu Coal Mine, the dredging of the Azumiri Seaport in Ukwa East, Abia State, and the restoration of the Ivo Dam, alongside the revitalisation of other federal government facilities that have suffered neglect in the Southeast for decades.
It also called for improved security in the region. Quoting the release, “We note with cautious optimism the ongoing improvements in the security landscape of the Southeast, particularly following the dissolution of the Monday Sit-at-Home order. We commend the efforts of the federal police in their commitment to restoring security, stability, and peace to our region.”
Our correspondent reports that the mainstream Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is led by Sen Azuka Mbata.
