The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has declared that the Southeast is no longer aligned with the OBIdient Movement, describing the region’s sweeping support for Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in the 2023 elections as a political error.
Umahi, who spoke on Saturday at the Ohanivo 2025 New Yam Festival in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the Southeast a renewed sense of political belonging, repositioning the zone ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are not OBIdient people. We have been so marginalised that we are no longer OBIdient. No, we are not. It is President Bola Tinubu who has given us a sense of belonging. There is no OBIdient person in Ebonyi State,” Umahi said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The former Ebonyi governor argued that the OBIdient wave in 2023 was a product of frustration, born out of decades of neglect. According to him, many in the Southeast mistook the movement for the region’s sole political identity, a decision he now brands as miscalculated.
Umahi said President Tinubu’s approach to inclusive governance has corrected long-standing feelings of alienation in the Southeast. He credited Tinubu for initiating infrastructure projects in the region, which he described as a turning point for the zone’s political direction.
“What we must do is to acknowledge and record the good things President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done for the Southeast and Ebonyi State in particular when the time comes. We will not be deceived again because the last election was a mistake. This time, we are wiser,” Umahi emphasized.
By urging the Southeast to rally behind Tinubu in 2027, Umahi is positioning himself as a political bridge between the presidency and the region. His comments reflect an early battle for the Southeast’s loyalty, a region that delivered a landslide for Obi in the last election.
Analysts suggest Umahi’s statement could deepen divisions in the zone, where loyalty to Obi remains strong among youths, while political elites increasingly tilt towards Tinubu in pursuit of federal recognition and development.
Though Umahi dismissed the movement as diminished, the OBIdient base continues to wield influence in national discourse, especially online. The coming months may determine whether Umahi’s prediction of its decline will hold true, or if Obi’s supporters can rekindle the 2023 momentum ahead of 2027.
