A prominent figure within Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has made a bold declaration about the political landscape of the Southeast ahead of the 2027 general elections. Prince Paul Ikonne, an APC chieftain from Abia State, asserted that the party is aiming for overwhelming electoral dominance in the region, suggesting that even a 90% vote share for President Bola Tinubu might be considered insufficient.
APC's Confidence in Southeast Realignment
Speaking during an interview on TVC's Politics Tonight on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Ikonne presented a confident outlook for his party. He argued that significant political shifts across the Southeast have drastically reduced the influence of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Ikonne linked this perceived decline to widespread defections of key figures and a growing acceptance of the APC's platform among Southeastern voters. "I think we have gone beyond seventy per cent," he stated, referencing the party's expected support level. "Some schools of thought believe that with the number and calibre of people we have in APC today in the South-East, 90 per cent will not be a good result for us."
He pointed to the recent endorsement of President Tinubu by a group of Southeast leaders in Enugu as concrete evidence of a coordinated political realignment. According to Ikonne, this move signals the region's strategic decision to reconnect with the federal government's centre of power after what he described as years of political isolation.
Nationwide Mobilisation Strategy for Igbo Votes
Ikonne revealed that the APC's strategy extends far beyond the five core Southeastern states. He disclosed that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, is spearheading a comprehensive outreach campaign targeting Igbo communities residing in all parts of Nigeria.
"What Governor Hope Uzodinma is doing is not only for Southeasterners residing in the South-East," Ikonne explained. "He has set up a team, which I am part of, going round all the states in Nigeria where Igbos reside, to engage and sensitise them on the need to key into the 2027 re-election bid of Mr President." This nationwide mobilisation effort is designed to consolidate a widespread base of support for President Tinubu's anticipated re-election campaign.
Using his home state as an example, Ikonne claimed that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost a substantial portion of its structure to the APC in Abia State. He framed this as a recovery of votes that were previously inaccessible to the ruling party.
Criticism of Governor Otti and Labour Party's Future
Ikonne did not spare criticism for the current governor of Abia State, Alex Otti. He described Governor Otti as politically isolated, citing his decision to conduct local government elections under the banner of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) instead of the Labour Party, which sponsored his gubernatorial bid.
"Our governor is minus one. Governor Alex Otti is minus one in the sense that he doesn't even have a party," Ikonne argued. "As of today, he is a member of the Labour Party, but he conducted local government elections with ZLP. He has abandoned Peter Obi."
He interpreted Otti's refusal to follow Peter Obi into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a sign of declining confidence in the former Anambra governor's political trajectory. Ikonne concluded that the Southeast has learned from past experiences and now recognizes the practical benefits of aligning with the federal government to safeguard its economic and political interests.
The APC chieftain asserted that growing support for President Tinubu among serving and former governors, senior lawmakers, and party leaders has significantly weakened Peter Obi's prospects. He also suggested that internal challenges within the ADC further diminish the likelihood of a formidable opposition challenge emerging from the region in the 2027 elections.
