A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections, Charles Udeogaranya, has stated that former military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s recent remarks on the January 1966 coup have set the stage for an Igbo presidency in 2027.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Udeogaranya commended Babangida’s clarification, describing it as a significant step toward correcting historical misconceptions that have long been used to marginalize the Igbo people in Nigeria’s leadership.
His reaction comes after the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called on the Federal Government to apologize for decades of exclusion and political sidelining of the South-East.
Speaking at the launch of his book A Journey in Service, Babangida emphasized that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo-led conspiracy—an assertion that has often been used to justify the region’s lack of access to the presidency.
Udeogaranya, a committed follower of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political ideals, argued that justice demands the presidency be zoned to the South-East in 2027.
“For decades, false narratives have been used to deny Ndigbo the opportunity to lead Nigeria. Babangida’s statement invalidates these claims and paves the way for an Igbo president in 2027,” he said.
He urged the APC, PDP, and Labour Party to prioritize Igbo candidates in the next presidential election, stating that such a move is essential for national reconciliation and economic progress.
