2027- South-East Now a Tinubu Stronghold, Says APC Chieftain

A prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has asserted that the South-East has firmly repositioned itself behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

Ikonne made the claim on Tuesday while speaking on Politics Tonight on TVC, stressing that party leaders in the region are expecting a landslide outcome for the President rather than a narrow victory.

Commenting on the recent endorsement of President Tinubu by South-East political stakeholders in Enugu, the former Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) said the APC’s ambition in the zone goes well beyond securing a simple majority.

“Seventy per cent is no longer the benchmark,” Ikonne said. “Given the calibre of leaders now in the APC across the South-East, some believe that even 90 per cent would fall short of expectations, considering the scale of defections and political realignments taking place.”

He described politics as a game of numbers and structure, arguing that when influential leaders shift allegiance, their supporters usually follow.

“This endorsement sends a strong message that the South-East has fully realigned with the centre to ensure its votes truly count. When leaders with real followership take a stand, the electorate moves with them,” he added.

Ikonne explained that the APC’s mobilisation drive is not limited to the five South-East states but extends to Igbo communities across the country.

“To understand the bigger picture, what Governor Hope Uzodinma is doing goes beyond those living within the South-East,” he said. “A team, which I am part of, has been constituted to engage Igbo populations in other parts of Nigeria, sensitising them on the importance of supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

“As a result, the South-East vote will not only be measured by ballots cast within the region, but also by those from Igbos residing outside it.”

Using Abia State as an example, Ikonne claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered significant defections to the APC, signalling a major shift in political loyalty.

“In Abia, the PDP has practically emptied into the APC. That tells you that votes previously lost by the party in other states will now count for us,” he said.

Ikonne also downplayed the influence of the Labour Party and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, arguing that changing political dynamics have eroded the party’s foothold in the South-East.

He claimed that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, declined to follow Obi into the African Democratic Congress because he doubted Obi’s ability to mount a serious challenge in 2027.

According to Ikonne, Governor Otti’s political standing has weakened due to the absence of a strong party structure.

“Our governor is effectively operating without a solid political platform,” he alleged. “Although he remains in the Labour Party, he contested local government elections under the ZLP.

“He has clearly distanced himself from Peter Obi. The fact that he started with Obi and is no longer aligned with him speaks volumes. His shifting interests suggest that both Abians and South-Easterners are increasingly gravitating toward President Tinubu,” Ikonne concluded.