Former Enugu Governor Sullivan Chime backs President Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing strong performance and growing APC support in the South-East

Former Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime has defended the decision by South-East political leaders to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term, describing the move as deliberate, realistic, and grounded in the President’s performance in office.

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Chime made the remarks in a statement released on Wednesday, following his alignment with last weekend’s endorsement of Tinubu by APC governors, party leaders, and stakeholders from the region ahead of the 2027 general election.

“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.

On the anticipated influence of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Chime said he would comment further in the coming months but maintained that Tinubu would post a strong performance once campaigns commence.

Chime also highlighted the growing acceptance of the APC in Enugu State, pointing to mass defections and enthusiasm among new members as validation of his 2015 decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

“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 is 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 resolving issues surrounding National Identification Numbers and voter cards to ensure no willing member was left out.

Chairmen of Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, and Oji River LGAs pledged aggressive grassroots mobilisation.

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Udi council chairman, Hyginus Agu, said, “The people are happy. Our governor has delivered across wards, and the people stand solidly with him and President Tinubu.”