David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has revealed that he will not contest for the presidency during the general elections in 2027.
Umahi said he had no intention of contesting while speaking to journalists in Lagos on Friday night, with the minister also praising President Bola Tinubu for his achievements so far.
“I will not run. I will work for my boss, President Tinubu. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the path to achieving what we want. The South East now has a voice at the centre. We will not return to Egypt,” Umahi said.
Also, according to Umahi, the South-East region of Nigeria is fully in support of Tinubu and will work for his re-election as president in 2027.
The former Governor of Ebonyi State further dismissed claims that the South-East was giving conditions, such as the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to support President Tinubu.
“Somebody asked me about Nnamdi Kanu, and I said his matter is not a condition for the South-East to support the president,” Umahi said.
“We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition because the president did not put him there.”
The minister heaped plaudits on Tinubu, calling the president a listening leader, and expressed faith that Kanu’s release would come through divine grace and dialogue, not through pressure or politics.
“President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is doing most things right. Look at where he picked up the economy from. The international community has confidence in his reforms. That is why we are getting support for our projects,” Umahi said.
