Picture: Mr President and Dr Charles Ebulue
By David Onwuchekwa
A political pressure group, IKEMBA FRONT, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces a daunting challenge in the South East should he contest the 2027 presidential election against former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi.
In a statement titled “Eyes on the Ball,” the National Youth Leader of the group, Dr. Charles Ebulue, acknowledged what he described as the “undeniably strong” grassroots influence of Obi and his supporters across the South East.
According to him, the strength of the Obidient Movement in the region, particularly at the grassroots level, remains a significant political factor ahead of 2027.
He, however, noted that Obi has not yet emerged as the officially recognised presidential candidate of any political party, arguing that several political variables surrounding his potential candidacy remain uncertain.
In contrast, Ebulue said President Tinubu could reasonably position himself as the sole presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with clearer political structures already in place.
On a projected scale of 1 to 100 percent, the IKEMBA FRONT youth leader estimated that President Tinubu could secure about 19 percent of the South East vote, while Obi could command approximately 79 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus two percent.
He said the projection underscores the need for the APC and Tinubu’s supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation in the region if they hope to alter the political landscape before the 2027 election.
Ebulue also urged political stakeholders in the South East to act strategically, calling on the people of the region to consider aligning with President Tinubu in the next presidential election.
The statement adds to the growing political discourse on the 2027 race, particularly regarding the battle for dominance in the South East, a region widely regarded as Obi’s political stronghold.
