Former governors from Nigeria's South-East region formed a new coalition, the South-East Forum of Former Governors, during a meeting in Enugu on Tuesday, 7th April 2026. The group officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 general elections. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works and former governor of Ebonyi State, read the communiqué announcing the endorsement. He stated the forum's purpose is to support and advise current governors from the region on governance and national issues. The forum is open to all former governors from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, regardless of political affiliation.
Attendees included Sullivan Chime, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Martin Elechi, Chris Ngige, and Okezie Ikpeazu. Some former governors, including Peter Obi, Chimaroke Nnamani, and Virginia Etiaba, were absent due to prior commitments or medical travel. The group praised current South-East governors for efforts in infrastructure, security, and empowerment programs. They cited Tinubu's infrastructure projects and federal appointments of South-East natives as key reasons for their endorsement. Umahi quoted the communiqué: "We commend Mr President for key appointments given to sons and daughters of the South-east, as well as the infrastructure revolution ongoing in the region and across the country."
The forum clarified it is not a rival to the existing South-East Governors' Forum but intends to collaborate with it. Plans are underway for a courtesy visit to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the forum's chairman, Hope Uzodimma. A follow-up meeting is scheduled within two weeks, with expectations of over 90 percent participation. Political observers view the formation as a strategic alignment ahead of 2027.
Dave Umahi, once a controversial PDP defector, now sits at the centre of a calculated political rebranding exercise, using the South-East Forum of Former Governors to legitimise his post-gubernatorial relevance and bolster a pro-Tinubu narrative in a region long seen as opposition-leaning. His role as the voice of the communiqué is not incidental—it signals a deliberate effort to position himself as the chief broker of South-East political loyalty, despite the absence of major figures like Peter Obi and Chimaroke Nnamani.
The endorsement of Tinubu hinges on two claims: infrastructure development and federal appointments. While roads and bridges are visible, their quality and distribution remain contested across the region. The emphasis on appointments—particularly of "sons and daughters" of the South-East—reveals a politics of patronage over policy. By framing loyalty in terms of inclusion in federal appointments, the forum reduces regional advocacy to access rather than accountability. This is less about development than about consolidating a network of political beneficiaries tied to the centre.
Ordinary citizens in the South-East, especially youth and small business owners, gain little from symbolic endorsements unless they translate into jobs, security, and functional public services. The forum's alignment with Tinubu may influence elite discourse, but it does not automatically shift voter sentiment in a region where economic hardship fuels political skepticism. The real test will be whether these former governors can move beyond photo opportunities to demand tangible improvements in power supply, transportation, and inter-regional trade.
This gathering fits a broader pattern in Nigerian politics: the recycling of ex-officeholders into loyalty cartels that legitimise incumbents in exchange for influence. Similar forums have emerged in the South-South and North-West ahead of past elections. What makes this notable is its timing—just 15 months before 2027—and its attempt to unify a historically fragmented South-East political class under a single pro-presidential banner.
