Former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, has defended the decision by political leaders in the South-East to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term, describing the move as deliberate, realistic, and grounded in the President’s performance in office.
Chime made the remarks in a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, following his alignment with last weekend’s endorsement of Tinubu by APC governors, leaders, and stakeholders from the region ahead of the 2027 general election.
He had earlier on Saturday flagged off the All Progressives Congress electronic registration exercise in Udi, Enugu West Senatorial District.
“I am part of the South-East, so you can take it for granted that I was part of that endorsement from the beginning. That is our collective decision, and we all stand by it. It is achievable,” Chime said.
The former governor expressed confidence that President Tinubu and the APC would secure a strong showing across the South-East in 2027, noting that the administration had performed creditably despite difficult global and regional economic conditions.
“The President has done well. What we are seeing in Nigeria is not peculiar; it is global, and certainly African. Given the circumstances, he is doing well,” he stated.
Regarding the anticipated influence of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Chime said he would address the political landscape in greater detail in the coming months but maintained that Tinubu would post a strong performance once campaigns commence.
Chime also expressed satisfaction with the growing acceptance of the APC in Enugu State, highlighting mass defections and the enthusiasm of new members as a validation of his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
“Ten years ago, when I joined the APC, we saw tomorrow. We knew the PDP was declining. Today, it is clear that the APC is the way to go,” he said, adding that the party was on course to surpass the two-million membership target set for the state.
Earlier, the Enugu State Coordinator of the APC e-registration programme, Flavour Eze, praised party leaders and members in Enugu West for effective mobilisation.
He expressed optimism that the state would exceed the registration benchmark, commending local government chairmen for working with relevant agencies to resolve issues surrounding National Identification Numbers and voter cards, ensuring that “no willing member was left out.”
Chairmen of Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, and Oji River LGAs pledged aggressive grassroots mobilisation.
In his remarks, Udi council chairman, Hyginus Agu, stated, “The people are happy. Our governor has delivered across wards, and the people stand solidly with him and President Tinubu.”
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