Despite internal opposition expressed during the recent North-East Zonal meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Maiduguri, Borno State, a pro-Igbo political group known as Igbo Arise for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 has publicly declared its strong support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 general elections.
At a press conference convened in Enugu on Thursday, the group formally endorsed the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for a second term, highlighting the importance of continuity and the developmental strides made under the current administration as the primary reasons for their backing.
Comrade Michael Iroakazi, the group’s National Coordinator, praised Vice President Shettima for his steadfast loyalty to President Tinubu. He described Shettima’s commitment as a crucial factor that has empowered the administration to implement bold and transformative policies.
He pointed to several major decisions taken by the administration as evidence of its political will—most notably, the removal of fuel subsidies, the pursuit of local government autonomy via a Supreme Court initiative, and ongoing tax reform legislation currently being debated at the National Assembly.
“In our view, this government is arguably the most courageous and reform-driven since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999. It has confronted longstanding issues that previous administrations chose to sidestep, all in a deliberate effort to deepen democracy and ensure sustainable national development,” Iroakazi declared.
Under the theme “Ahamuefuna”—an Igbo phrase meaning “My name will not be lost”—the group issued a passionate call to Igbos across Nigeria to align with the Tinubu/Shettima 2027 campaign. They emphasized that active participation in the central government is essential for advancing the political and economic interests of the South-East.
“Our Igbo brothers and sisters, we urge you to board this train of progress. We are confident that a renewed Tinubu/Shettima mandate will create the right platform to decisively tackle insecurity in the South-East and prioritize the region’s economic, social, and political development,” Iroakazi said.
He further argued that such regional goals could not be realistically achieved from a position of political marginalization. Therefore, he encouraged the Igbo nation to unify behind the current leadership to secure greater influence and negotiation power in national affairs.
