David Umahi has urged people in Nigeria’s South-East region to strongly support Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, warning that failure to do so could affect the continuation of major federal infrastructure projects in the region.

Umahi made the remarks on Wednesday, May 20, during an inspection of ongoing federal road and bridge projects in Ebonyi State. He described the projects as unprecedented in the history of the South-East, arguing that no previous administration had invested as heavily in the region’s infrastructure.

Among the projects inspected was the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, which the minister described as one of the administration’s flagship legacy projects. According to him, the section stretching from Ndibe Beach in Ebonyi State to the Ebonyi–Benue boundary covers about 123 kilometres and is being constructed using reinforced concrete pavement and solar-powered streetlights at an estimated cost of ₦454 billion.

Umahi disclosed that the Federal Government had already released 50 percent funding for the project, while approvals were also being processed for the dualisation of critical sections of the route. He added that another section of the corridor, extending about 178 kilometres from the Ebonyi–Benue boundary through Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states to Oweto Bridge, carries a contract value of ₦685 billion.

While acknowledging financial challenges affecting contractors, the minister maintained that the government remained committed to fulfilling its obligations. He stated that there was hardly any state in Nigeria without a major construction project under the current administration.

Umahi also argued that communities benefiting from federal projects should reciprocate politically by supporting Tinubu in the next election. Referring to voting patterns in Afikpo, he reportedly said the area would need to deliver “100 percent” support if residents wanted certain projects completed.

The minister further claimed that the South-East had regained relevance in national politics under the present administration, citing both his appointment as Minister of Works and the scale of infrastructure projects ongoing across the region.