… Says Alex Otti floating, abandon Peter Obi
…Dismisses Senator Abaribe
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state, Prince Paul Ikonne, has said the South-east leaders have resolved to deliver the region to the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, adding that 90 percent of votes won’t be good enough.
Ikonne, who is the immidiate-past Executive Secretary and CEO of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) revealed that the entire South-east is almost a one party region for the President.
Speaking during an interview on the popular show on TVC “Politics Tonight” Tuesday evening, Ikonne dismissed the influence of Labour Party, revealing that Governor Alex Otti refused to follow Peter Obi to opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) because he knew Obi won’t go far.
He also said Governor Alex Otti is no longer a factor because the Governor do not have a party to even function.
While reacting to the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed by the South-east leaders in Enugu state, Ikonne said: “I think we have gone beyond seventy percent. Some school of thought believe that with the number of people, the calibre of people we have in APC today in the South-east that 90 percent will not be good result for us considering the moves, the decamping, the harvest of people that we are getting.
“Let me give you a clearer picture so you can understand what it means for the entire south. What Governor Hope Uzodinma is doing is not only for the Southeasterners residing in the South-east. No, he has set up a team which I am part of now going around all the states in Nigeria wear the Igbos reside, for us to begin to engage them, sensitize them, for them to understand the need to key into the 2027 re-election bid of Mr President.
“So the votes that will come from the South-east will not only be judged by the ones from those who are residing within the South-east but from the ones also who are residing outside the South-east. Outside that, using Abia as a case study, PDP has almost emptied into APC in Abia state. What does that tell you? It tells you that the votes which were lost without having PDP, now that those in PDP are part of APC in other states, we will have them.”
When asked about the influence and popularity of Governor Alex Otti in Abia state, Ikonne said: “Our governor is minus one. This Governor Alex Otti is minus one in the sense that he doesn’t even have a party. As of today, he’s a member of the Labor Party but he conducted local government elections with ZLP.
“He has abandoned Peter Obi. So what does that tell you? He started with Peter Obi and he’s not ending up with Peter Obi. Why is he afraid? Why is his interest hinting towards APC? Because you have seen that people have shifted, Abians have shifted, southeasterners have shifted to support President Tinubu.
“Now no Southeasterner will want to stay out or will want this region to stay out of the center. We cannot keep isolating ourselves. No, southeasterners are no longer willing and ready to isolate themselves from governance because we need power and we are traders, we are businessmen and women.
“Aligning with the center helps our businesses. We are all over nigeria and we cannot be seen to be against government at the center so that is why the work that governor hope and other leaders are putting in to see that we people understand the need for us to re-elect President Tinubu but not just with 10, 20 percent no.
“I did say sometime ago that South-east will eventually become the stronghold of APC and with this endorsement, it is beginning to be obvious that we are getting towards that point.”
The APC chieftain said Peter Obi no longer commands the political strength to match President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-east ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to him, the endorsement by serving governors, former governors, ex–Senate Presidents, ministers and other top political figures marks a strategic return of the South-east to the centre of national politics and naturally diminishes Obi’s standing ahead of 2027.
“The calibre of leaders backing this endorsement shows a clear consolidation of political structures in favour of President Tinubu and the APC,” Ikonne said.
“Politics is about numbers and structure. When leaders who command followership align, the votes follow.
“This endorsement is a clear statement that the South-East has properly realigned with the centre to ensure that its votes count,” he said.
He further downplayed the political strength of Peter Obi, arguing that his influence has weakened considerably, particularly in the South-east.
“If the only governor elected on his platform has effectively abandoned him, what does that tell you?” Ikonne asked, referring to Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Ikonne also alleged internal disarray within Obi’s new political platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and said the absence of strong party structures would make it difficult for Obi to mount a serious challenge in 2027.
He dismissed claims that the APC is struggling for credibility in the South-east, insisting that the ruling party has become the major destination for defectors from rival parties in the region.
“The Igbos are not fools and no Igbo man wants to make one mistake two times. No not at all,” he said.
The APC chieftain also dismissed recent criticism of the President by the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial district, Eyinnaya Abaribe, saying the Senator knew that he has lost relevance and can not be re-elected in the coming election.
