Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East have come under heavy criticism following their decision to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC chieftains, drawn from three South-East states, met in Enugu on Saturday where they publicly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
During the gathering, they also took subtle jabs at the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Reacting sharply to the endorsement, former Rivers State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Apostle Eugene Eqwuatu Ogu, condemned the move, describing it as “shameful and disgraceful”.
Ogu expressed dismay that the endorsement came at a time when the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention in northern Nigeria.
He said it was troubling that “these people are here endorsing the same man that sent their son to the prison for committing no known crime against the state”.
The cleric further alleged that the same South-East leaders had earlier approached President Tinubu to seek Kanu’s release but were turned down.
He said, “these same elders went to President Tinubu and pleaded with him to release Kanu from prison, the President rejected their plea. It therefore implies that they have been hoodwinking the people of the south-east on their promise that Kanu will be release. This is a grand deception”.
The former PFN/CAN leader argued that the South-East remains marginalized under the current administration and warned that this would have serious political consequences.
He said, “President Tinubu will not have any face in the region in the next election. In the entire south-east there are no good roads, no light and no federal government presence.
“In 2027 everybody will know where the south-east stands. Any attempt to deride any right standing Igbo son or daughter including the former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will attract certain consequences. I do not think the south-east people are part of that endorsement”.
Ogu also predicted a sharp decline in the APC’s popularity both in the South-East and across the country, claiming defections to the ruling party were driven by self-preservation rather than genuine support.
“APC is suddenly losing popularity in the south-east and Nigeria generally. APC will soon be deserted by Nigerians. Those defecting to the party are doing so just to protect their political future. I can assure you today that before the next election, APC will almost become empty”, he said.
The General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangel Mission challenged the Federal Government to implement comprehensive electoral reforms ahead of 2027, insisting that a truly independent electoral process would expose the ruling party’s standing with Nigerians.
“I dare them to carry out the reforms. Nigerians will want to see the electoral reforms so that INEC can be truly allowed to be independent indeed. When this is done, let us see how APC will fare with Nigerians given the present economic hardship and insecurity in the country”.
