A faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, to step down from pursuing another presidential bid in 2027 and instead support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze, the group claimed the South-East region is not currently positioned to make Obi president and advised him to prioritise the collective interests of the region over personal ambition.

The statement cited what it described as “uncomfortable political realities,” referencing the fallout from the Atiku-Obi presidential ticket in 2019, which allegedly cost the region a proposed sixth state promised by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in exchange for political support.

Despite the South-East’s overwhelming support for the Labour Party in 2023, Isiguzoro noted that President Tinubu has made commendable efforts to address the region’s infrastructural needs.

“The appointment of Engr. David Umahi as Minister of Works, with the mandate to overhaul federal road infrastructure in the South-East, underscores Tinubu’s commitment to the region,” the statement read. “In addition, federal allocations to the South-East have tripled under Tinubu’s administration, positively impacting all five South-East governors, regardless of political party.”

The faction warned that a renewed Obi presidential bid, especially amid the unresolved tensions within the opposition, could further fracture the anti-Tinubu bloc, paving the way for the incumbent to secure another term in office.

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“With Atiku Abubakar still in the mix, pursuing the presidency at age 81, and his lukewarm stance toward Peter Obi, it is clear that their parallel ambitions will divide opposition votes,” Isiguzoro stated. “This will inadvertently ensure Tinubu’s smooth re-election and leave the South-East politically disadvantaged once again.”

Describing the message as a “bitter pill,” Isiguzoro urged Obi to reassess his political path and instead channel his influence toward negotiating tangible developmental gains for the South-East.

“We implore Mr. Obi to consider the bigger picture and support President Tinubu’s second term bid. It is time for the South-East to unify and leverage its position, especially with ongoing infrastructure projects and increasing federal engagement,” he said.

While acknowledging Obi’s constitutional right to run for office in 2027, the group expressed “serious reservations” about the feasibility and potential consequences of another presidential attempt, warning of possible betrayal and renewed political losses for the Igbo people.

Recalling the outcomes of 2019 and 2023, the statement noted that the South-East suffered politically in both elections, as Obi’s candidacies—first as Atiku’s running mate and later as a presidential contender—failed to translate into tangible gains for the region.

“The path to victory in 2027 is riddled with challenges, especially with the power of incumbency and a fragmented opposition. The South-East must now pursue strategic alignment, not isolated ambition,” the group concluded.