Coalition insists S’East hasn’t endorsed presidential candidate

A prominent youth group in Nigeria's South-East has challenged the assertion that governors from the region have pledged support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) stated that such a declaration by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who also chairs the South-East Governors’ Forum, represents his personal political stance and not the collective will of the region's people.

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The attention of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, the apex socio-political youth group in the South East geopolitical zone has been drawn to the statement credited to the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, claiming that the South-East governors have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

COSEYL's President General, Goodluck Ibem, asserted that no elected official holds the constitutional, political, or moral right to commit the region's votes. He emphasized that the era of a few political figures dictating democratic choices for millions has ended. The group stressed that the South-East has not yet taken a position on the 2027 presidential election and has not endorsed any candidate or political arrangement.

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COSEYL wishes to state unequivocally that Governor Uzodimma’s declaration is his personal political opinion and that of any governor who chooses to associate with it. It is neither the collective position nor the mandate of the people of the South-East.

According to Ibem, the people of the South-East will independently evaluate all aspirants based on factors such as competence, justice, equity, national inclusion, security, economic performance, and commitment to addressing the aspirations of the Igbo people and Nigeria as a whole. He reminded Governor Uzodimma that governors do not determine election outcomes, as sovereignty ultimately rests with the individual citizens in a democracy.

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No governor, irrespective of his office or political affiliation, possesses the constitutional, political or moral authority to mortgage the votes of the people of the South-East or to make electoral commitments on their behalf. The era when a handful of political office holders presumed they could dictate the democratic choices of millions of citizens is over.