Politics
2027: South East at a crossroads, faces hard choices
The South East zone currently finds itself at a crossroads, given the political developments in the country.
Since the beginning of the current political era in 1999, Ndigbo have overwhelmingly supported the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). All five states in the southeast had PDP governors, and nearly all members of the House of Assembly and the National Assembly were elected under the banner of this party.
During its time in the PDP, the South East produced five Senate Presidents—one from each state—over eight years. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo served as the president, and an Igbo legislator was appointed as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. This period also marked the first time in 45 years that an Igbo held the position of Chief of Army Staff, with now-retired General Azubuike Ihejirika assuming the role. Additionally, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was appointed Secretary of the Federation, and Onovo became the Inspector General of Police. These appointments represented significant milestones for the Igbo in Nigeria’s political landscape. It was Goodluck Jonathan who appointed Ihejirika and Anyim, while Yara’Dua promoted Onovo to the position of Inspector General of Police.
From 1999 to 2015, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over from the PDP, Ndigbo were at the peak of political power in Nigeria. The South East held key positions in government, with Ndigbo serving as ministers in important ministries such as finance, education, and aviation. However, they were unable to secure the Ministry of Works. Most major federal agencies, like the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Prisons, the Pilgrims Road Safety Commission, and Abuja Municipality, were headed by individuals from the Igbo community. Furthermore, Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu was upgraded to international standards. Nonetheless, the presidency eluded the region, as one of its prominent figures, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, lost the PDP presidential ticket to Obasanjo on two occasions.
While Ndigbo were harnessing their political influence, Anambra State diverged from the Igbo-PDP alliance to support the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a stance it has maintained since. Even after serving as governor of Anambra State for eight years, Peter Obi returned to the PDP to become the deputy presidential candidate alongside former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2019.
Currently, the situation for Ndigbo is concerning. The PDP, which once elevated them to political prominence, is now disintegrating. Once regarded as the largest party in the black world, the PDP is now a shadow of its former self. The symbol of the party, the umbrella, is torn, and its members have scattered for safety.
As the 2027 elections approach, Ndigbo continue to search for one of their own to be elected as Nigeria’s executive president, yet they find themselves at a crossroads. Should they remain with the fractured PDP? Is the APC a viable option? What about APGA or the Labour Party (LP)? What is Ndigbo’s strategy for 2027?
Engr. Chibuzor Ekenze, who has been observing the activities of the Fourth Republic since 1999, hails from Nguru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. He believes that neither the PDP nor the APC can promise meaningful outcomes for Ndigbo in 2027.
According to him, “The PDP did wonders for Ndigbo between 1999 and 2015. Given the political landscape of those years, it was nearly impossible for Ndigbo to have produced a president. Tragically, the APC emerged and, for reasons I cannot articulate here, chose to reintroduce the marginalization of the Igbo that the PDP had nearly eradicated.
“For instance, under the APC presidency, there has been no Igbo president, no deputy president, and no Igbo in leadership roles such as Senate President, Deputy Senate President, House Speaker, or Deputy House Speaker. The APC did not consider any Igbo candidate suitable for the position of national chairman of the ruling party. In the first eight years of APC leadership under Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, there were over 23 security chiefs, yet none were from the Igbo community. Therefore, APC is not a viable option.
“As for the PDP, the party is almost defunct. There are no serious politicians willing to run in the PDP as it stands. The litigations that will arise from the party in the near future will be overwhelming. The Labour Party has also been tainted by corruption, similar to the PDP. Meanwhile, APGA is not truly a regional party; it is solely an Anambra State affair and cannot be considered a serious option.
“In all honesty, our best course of action is to join forces with the emerging coalition and see how things unfold.”