RismadarVoice Reporters
November 1, 2026
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has declared that the South-East is prepared to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 general election.
Kalu made the declaration on Saturday during the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Mobilisation Campaign and South-East Women Empowerment Programme in Enugu.
The event was organised by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as part of the ruling party’s efforts to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the presidential election.
Speaking at the gathering, Kalu claimed that the South-East had agreed to support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for another four-year term.
He argued that the region should reciprocate what he described as Tinubu’s longstanding goodwill towards the Igbo people.
The Deputy Speaker recalled that Tinubu appointed individuals of Igbo extraction to positions during his tenure as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007.
Kalu also cited the establishment of the South-East Development Commission as an important intervention by the current administration.
According to him, the commission represents progress towards addressing development challenges associated with the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War.
He maintained that previous administrations had not adequately fulfilled the post-war objectives of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.
The Deputy Speaker further highlighted federal road and bridge projects, educational scholarships and loan programmes as examples of initiatives he said would benefit residents of the South-East.
He commended the First Lady’s women empowerment programme, describing it as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to supporting communities in the region.
Kalu also addressed the longstanding demand for a Nigerian president of South-East extraction.
He argued that the region should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure whenever it produces a president, citing its prolonged exclusion from the country’s highest executive office.
However, he maintained that supporting Tinubu’s re-election should remain the region’s immediate political priority.
Kalu urged residents to participate in the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and support the APC candidates.
His declaration reflects the position he presented at the party event and does not establish unanimous political support across the South-East.
The region comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, where voters and political organisations hold differing preferences.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
The Enugu gathering forms part of the APC’s continuing mobilisation activities ahead of the nationwide polls.
