Umahi reaffirms support for Tinubu, Nwifuru, urges consensus or direct primaries in Ebonyi

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, CON, has restated his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, while urging members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace unity and discipline ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement by Francis Nwaze, FIPMD, Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media), on April 29, 2026, Umahi clarified that there was no directive from the President preventing aspirants from purchasing nomination forms. “I have spoken to Mr President and our governor and there was no instruction from Mr President that those who want to contest elections in Ebonyi State should be shut off from buying forms,” he said.

While affirming the democratic rights of aspirants, Umahi emphasized his political loyalty to both the President and the Governor. “In Ebonyi State, my support is to the governor as we have adopted him as sole candidate. This is the position of Mr President nationwide and our governor agrees with me,” he noted.

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He stressed the importance of internal democracy, encouraging consensus where possible and direct primaries where necessary. “Dialogue and negotiation should be adopted by the governor as to possibly reach consensus among all aspirants, and where consensus is not reached, then direct primaries must take place,” Umahi added.

The Minister stressed the need for collective effort to strengthen the APC, warning against divisions. “This position is to keep the party we have suffered to build together and ensure that we are united to make big votes for all our candidates, especially the President and Governor. No one person can do this alone. We need one another,” he concluded.