In a significant political development, former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, has publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. Chime aligned himself with the recent endorsement made by South-East governors and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region, stating that the President has performed commendably in office.
Full-Throated Endorsement at APC E-Registration Launch
The endorsement was made during the flag-off ceremony of the APC electronic membership registration exercise for Enugu West Senatorial District, held in Udi on Tuesday. Chime, a key political figure in the state, declared that he was part of the collective decision from the beginning and expressed unwavering confidence in the party's prospects.
"I am part of the South East. So, you can take it for granted that I was part of that endorsement. That is our decision and we all stand by it," Chime stated emphatically. He dismissed any doubts about Tinubu and the APC's ability to secure overwhelming victory in the South-East during the 2027 polls.
APC: The New Political Reality in Enugu
Chime used the occasion to justify his own defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC after the 2015 elections, a move he said has been vindicated by current political realities. He observed a palpable excitement towards the APC in Enugu State and the wider region.
"Ten years ago, when I joined the APC, we saw tomorrow. We knew PDP was going down. It is now obvious that APC is the only party available," he asserted. He expressed confidence that the state would exceed the ambitious two-million membership target set by the state governor and party leader, Dr. Peter Mbah, during the ongoing e-registration drive.
Local Government Chairmen Pledge Grassroots Mobilisation
The event also featured strong commitments from local government chairmen across the senatorial district. Chairmen from Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, and Oji River Local Government Areas pledged to mobilise from ward to ward to achieve the membership goal.
Udi LGA Chairman, Hon. Hyginus Agu, linked the people's willingness to join the APC to the performance of Governor Mbah. "The truth is that our governor has done so well... He has chosen APC, and the people stand solidly with him and our dear President," Agu stated.
This development follows the recent adoption of President Tinubu as the sole candidate for 2027 by South-East APC stakeholders, including Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi. Chime indicated that more detailed discussions regarding the 2027 campaign would unfold in the coming months.
