By Adewumi Omoboade

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said Peter Obi is not the best presidential candidate the South-East can produce, arguing that the former Anambra State governor failed to consult regional political leaders before pursuing his 2023 presidential ambition.

Umahi made the remarks in an interview with Arise News and insisted his stance on Peter Obi’s candidacy was not driven by personal differences with Obi, but by his belief that the Southeast has other qualified political figures capable of seeking the presidency.

Peter Obi is not the best of our finest in South-East, Umahi said. He’s not the best; he can never be the best.

The former Ebonyi State governor argued that anyone seeking to represent the political interests of the South-East at the national level should first engage governors and other influential stakeholders in the region to build consensus.

You cannot play politics in South-East without consulting people like us, he said.

Umahi added that if he were seeking the presidency, he would consult widely with political leaders before declaring his ambition, stressing that such a move should not be undertaken without engaging those whose interests the candidate claims to represent.

He also challenged the perception that Obi should automatically be considered the South-East’s strongest presidential option because of his performance in the 2023 election. According to him, the region has several qualified politicians who should be considered in future discussions about producing Nigeria’s president.

The minister further argued that the presidency should not automatically be allocated to Anambra State whenever the South-East gets an opportunity to produce a president. He noted that Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, hailed from the area that now forms Anambra State, adding that Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo should also be considered.

Umahi’s comments came amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly over support for President Bola Tinubu among political leaders in the South-East.

Umahi defended those backing Tinubu, rejecting suggestions that their political choices amounted to a betrayal of the region.

He maintained that the South-East could improve its chances of producing a president through negotiations and alliances with other parts of the country rather than treating support for any individual politician as a measure of regional loyalty.