Reasons for Southeast's Support of Tinubu's Re-election - Former Governor Chime

Sullivan Chime, who previously served as the Governor of Enugu State, has detailed the motivations behind the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for another term, labeling the decision as both well-reasoned and attainable.

Over the weekend, governors and influencers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast publicly supported Tinubu’s re-election for 2027, asserting that his tenure has merited this backing.

During the kickoff of the APC electronic registration initiative in Enugu West Senatorial Zone, Chime mentioned that he was involved in the endorsement from the outset, expressing his belief that Tinubu and the APC would achieve a significant victory in the Southeast in the upcoming elections in 2027.

“I belong to the Southeast, so it's reasonable to say that I endorsed it. We are united in this decision, which is entirely feasible,” Chime stated.

He remarked that President Tinubu has performed admirably despite facing global and continental economic hurdles. "The President has done commendably. What we see in Nigeria reflects global patterns, especially across Africa. The challenges are widespread. Given these factors, he is performing well," he asserted.

Concerning the influence of Peter Obi, Chime noted that he would further discuss the 2027 elections in the future, suggesting that the President is expected to demonstrate strong support once the campaigns commence.

He expressed satisfaction with the growing enthusiasm for the APC in the Southeast, particularly in Enugu State, indicating that his choice to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) post the 2015 elections has been validated.

Chime shared that APC leaders in Enugu are committed to exceeding the two- million membership target established by Governor and party leader, Peter Mbah, in the ongoing electronic registration process.

"We are here primarily to appreciate our constituents. The excitement around joining the APC is palpable. The APC has emerged as the sole party in Enugu State," asserted Chime.

"A decade ago, when I joined the APC, we foresaw the future. We were aware that the PDP was declining. It is now clear that the APC is the solution. The two-million benchmark is simply the starting point; we aim to surpass that in Enugu State," he further added.

Additionally, Flavour Eze, who coordinates the Enugu State APC e-registration program, praised party members and stakeholders in the Enugu West Senatorial District for their mobilization efforts. He expressed confidence that the state will exceed the two-million membership target upon completion of the registration initiative.

Eze also acknowledged the contributions of local government chairpersons in the region who proactively tackled issues related to the National Identification Number (NIN) and voter registration, ensuring no willing prospective members were left out of the initiative.

He mentioned that local government chairpersons collaborated with relevant agencies to assist party supporters in acquiring their NINs and voter cards, thus facilitating their successful registration as APC members.

Eze announced the official launch of the APC e-registration in the Enugu West Senatorial District and urged members to begin registration at the ward level immediately, emphasizing that participation in the exercise was crucial for recognition and access to party opportunities.

Local government chairpersons from Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, and Oji River, including Hyginus Agu, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, Uchenna Okoko, Dr. Vita Ndu, and Greg Anyaegbudike, committed to vigorous mobilization efforts to ensure enrollment of over two million members.

"The reality is that our governor has performed exceptionally well. Every political ward has multiple projects. The citizens are pleased, and they view Governor Mbah as their political representative. He has aligned with the APC, and the people fully support him and our esteemed President," remarked Agu.