Coalition insists S’East hasn’t endorsed presidential candidate
July 29, 2026 4:41 am
An apex socio-political youth group in the South-East, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, has said the region has not endorsed any presidential candidate.
The group was reacting to statement credited to the Imo State Governor 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.
Recall that Uzodimma, during a meeting with members of the Imo State Council of Elders and the State Traditional Rulers Council at the Government House, Owerri, said the decision to endorse Tinubu was based on what the “governors consider the President’s tangible developmental achievements in the South-East”.
However, reacting to the governor’s endorsement in a press statement released on Tuesday, the President General, COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem, said no governor, irrespective of his office or political affiliation, possesses the constitutional, political or moral authority to make electoral commitments on behalf of the region.
The statement read, “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 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.
“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.
“The South-East has not taken any position on the 2027 presidential election. The region has not endorsed any candidate, political party or political arrangement. When the time comes, the people will freely evaluate every aspirant based on competence, justice, equity, national inclusion, security, economic performance and commitment to addressing the legitimate aspirations of Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole.
“We remind Governor Uzodimma that the governors of the South-East will not determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. In a democracy, sovereignty belongs to the people, not to elected officials. Every vote belongs to an individual citizen, not to a governor.”
The group cautioned political leaders against creating the false impression that the South-East has surrendered its democratic right to negotiate, deliberate and decide its political future, adding that such sweeping declarations are misleading, presumptuous and disrespectful to millions of Igbo voters whose voices cannot be appropriated by anyone.
“While every governor has the constitutional right to support any presidential candidate of his choice, that right remains strictly personal and political. It must not be presented as the collective decision of an entire region without consultation or the consent of the people,” the group added.
COSEYL called on all political parties and presidential aspirants to engage the South-East with sincerity, respect and concrete programmes rather than relying on endorsements from political elites.
“We urge the good people of the South-East to remain vigilant, united and resolute. No individual or group should assume the authority to negotiate away the political future of our people. The South-East’s votes are not for sale, not transferable and not subject to the personal preferences of any elected official,” it added.
Ikenna Obianeri is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over 10 years of experience in reporting and storytelling. He conducts incisive interviews, covers crime and environmental issues, and produces engaging feature stories tailored for digital audiences. Ikenna’s work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to impactful, audience-focused journalism
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