Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence as Nigeria’s leader as “a divine arrangement,” urging the South East to rally behind him ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) South East stakeholders’ meeting in Abakaliki, Nwifuru said Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 polls defied expectations because it was “ordained by God.”
He argued that candidates who based their campaigns on religious sentiments were bypassed “because God sees the heart of everyone.”
“God chose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be president of Nigeria contrary to the wishes and expectations of the opposition in 2023,” Nwifuru said. “God ignored others who contested on religious sentiments because God sees the heart of everybody. That is why He brought Tinubu.”
The governor praised Tinubu’s “bold and far-reaching decisions,” saying they have already triggered economic reforms with meaningful impact.
He insisted no alliance of opposition parties could derail Tinubu’s re-election bid and called on the South East to remain firmly behind the president to ensure the region benefits from federal policies and programmes.
“Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is at home in Ebonyi State. We must be tolerant of divergent views and join President Tinubu to succeed and complete his tenure,” he added.
Nwifuru also emphasised the importance of unity within the APC, warning against divisive politics that, he said, hinder development.
APC state chairman Chief Stanley Emegha, who also spoke at the event, reaffirmed the party’s determination to strengthen its base and defeat the opposition in future elections.