Former Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, aligning himself with the recent adoption of the President by South East governors, APC leaders and stakeholders in the region.
Chime said he was fully involved in the endorsement from the outset and expressed confidence that Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress would record a decisive victory in the South East in the next general election.
He spoke on Tuesday in Udi during the flag-off of the APC electronic membership registration exercise in Enugu West Senatorial District, where he described President Tinubu’s performance as commendable, given prevailing global and regional economic realities.
“I am from the South East, so it goes without saying that I was part of the endorsement. It was a collective decision and we stand by it. I have no doubt that it is achievable,” Chime said.
According to him, the challenges currently facing Nigeria are not peculiar to the country alone but reflect broader global and African economic pressures.
“The President has done well. Considering what is happening globally and across Africa, he is doing well under the circumstances,” he stated.
The former governor said he would speak more extensively on the 2027 elections when the campaign season officially begins.
“With elections approaching next year, there will be time to talk. When campaigns start, we will engage fully,” he added.
Chime also expressed satisfaction with the growing acceptance of the APC in the South East, particularly in Enugu State, noting that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party after the 2015 elections had been vindicated.
He said APC leaders in the state were determined to exceed the two-million membership target set for them in the ongoing electronic registration exercise by Governor Peter Mbah, the party’s leader in Enugu State.
“We are here to appreciate our people. You can see the enthusiasm. APC is now the dominant political party in Enugu State,” he said.
“Ten years ago, when I joined the APC, we already saw where things were headed. PDP was on the decline, and today it is clear that APC remains the viable option. Exceeding the two-million membership mark in Enugu is achievable and we will go beyond it,” he added.
Chime described the renewed energy within the party as encouraging, insisting that those still hesitant would eventually come to terms with political realities.
Meanwhile, chairmen of Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu and Oji River local government areas pledged to mobilise aggressively at the grassroots to ensure the registration of over two million APC members across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Udi LGA, Hon. Hyginus Agu, praised Governor Peter Mbah’s performance, saying his developmental projects across wards had strengthened public support for the APC.
“Our governor has performed exceptionally well. There are visible projects in every ward, and the people are happy. For many of them, Governor Mbah represents their political party.
He has chosen the APC, and the people stand firmly with him and President Tinubu,” Agu said.
It will be recalled that Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, alongside other APC leaders and stakeholders in the South East, at the weekend unanimously adopted President Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
