Former Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State, Ibe Michael Nwoke, has condemned the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by a group identified as the Southeast Local Government Forum.
Naijaonpoint understands that the group had visited the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, in Umuahia, where they pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
However, Nwoke, a former Abia State Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman, described the endorsement as an illegal and self-serving political “cash out” staged for personal gain.
Speaking via a statement, Nwoke stated that the Local Government Forum lacks any legitimacy or credibility to speak on behalf of former local government chairmen in the region.
“There is no recognized or constitutionally backed forum representing former local government chairmen in the Southeast. What we’re seeing is a group of individuals using the name of the region to seek political favour and personal gain,” Nwoke said.
He condemned their attempts to portray a false image of regional consensus on the 2027 presidency, describing Tinubu’s endorsement at Kalu’s residence as deceptive.
“No one appointed them to speak for us. Their statements do not reflect the pain, the hardship, or the concerns of the people they claim to represent. These are political actors staging a performance, not leaders advancing the public good,” said the former Abia ALGON chairman.
He urged Deputy Speaker Kalu to focus on governance and the pressing needs of the Southeast rather than engaging in such political “pageantry.”
He accused the group of using the Tinubu endorsement as a transactional tool enabled by the Deputy Speaker.
“This so-called forum should not be taken seriously. It is nothing more than a mouthpiece for political convenience. We must redirect our focus to real leadership, people-centered policies, and the restoration of hope for our region,” he said.