A former member of the House of Representatives and member of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee, Oghene Emmanuel Egoh, has blamed misinformation for what he described as hostility towards President Bola Tinubu in the South-East, expressing confidence that the president would make significant electoral gains in the region in the 2027 general elections.
Egoh also defended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, amid disagreements with some APC governors over his involvement in a political coalition, describing the former Rivers State governor as an electoral asset whose contributions should not be undermined by party differences.
In an interview with Pointblanknews, Egoh argued that the perception of Tinubu in the South-East had been shaped largely by misinformation, insisting that the region stood to benefit from the administration’s policies and infrastructure projects.
“I want to say that a lot of it is founded on misinformation. Otherwise, there’s no reason for the South-East to hate Mr President,” he said.
According to him, many young people in the region had yet to fully understand the administration’s policies and achievements because of what he described as inadequate information management.
“A lot of young ones do not know what is happening. But going forward with this election, they are beginning to understand now that a lot of what people have been saying about Tinubu have been misinformation,” he added.
The APC chieftain expressed optimism that Tinubu would perform better in the South-East in 2027 than some political observers might expect.
Although he did not predict a complete sweep of the region, Egoh said the president would secure a significant share of the votes, including in states traditionally associated with opposition politics.
“I’m not saying Tinubu will win the South-East 100 per cent, but Tinubu will get a very, very good share in the South-East,” he said.
To support his position, Egoh cited the political relationships between Tinubu and governors in the region, including Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
He pointed to Soludo’s reported involvement in the president’s campaign structure and the political positions of other governors as indications that the region’s political landscape was more complex than a straightforward Tinubu-versus-opposition contest.
Egoh also referenced Otti’s comments on petrol subsidy removal, arguing that the Abia governor had questioned calls for its restoration because of the implications for revenue available to state governments.
According to the former lawmaker, the increased revenue accruing to the three tiers of government following the subsidy removal had provided states with additional resources to finance development projects.
He argued that the benefits of federal policies and increased allocations should feature more prominently in political discussions in the South-East.
However, whether these developments will translate into increased votes for Tinubu remains to be seen in the 2027 elections.
On infrastructure, Egoh praised Tinubu for what he described as renewed federal attention to the South-South, particularly through the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the East-West Road.
He said the region, despite being a major source of Nigeria’s petroleum revenue, had suffered years of inadequate infrastructure investment.
According to him, the administration’s commitment to both projects demonstrated a willingness to address longstanding infrastructure deficits in the oil-producing region.
“I cannot help but praise Mr President for what he has done for the South-South. Yes, we appreciate the South-South is a good basket of the country from where most of the oil money comes to develop the country. But we find that the place has been neglected over the years,” he said.
Egoh argued that attention to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway should not come at the expense of the East-West Road, which he described as critical to transportation and economic activity across the region.
He said the government had decided to pursue work on the East-West Road alongside the coastal highway to address the region’s infrastructure needs.
“Things started with the Coastal Road, and when we saw that, having seen that that is going to take some time, also, he has decided to now work on the East-West Road,” he said.
Egoh added that plans to address structural challenges along the East-West Road, including sections affected by flooding and low-lying terrain, could improve the road’s durability.
“As the minister said, they will need to raise the East-West Road because a lot of areas are below the water level. And once that is done, then the South-South people can now enjoy the full benefit of the president’s efforts,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been abandoned, saying the Minister of Works had clarified that the project remained part of the administration’s infrastructure programme.
Egoh maintained that the two roads should be viewed as complementary projects rather than competing priorities.
“I want to thank Mr President for this generosity and the love for the people of the South-South, and for continuing with the Coastal Road,” he said.
The APC chieftain acknowledged that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had criticised the coastal highway project and supported calls for its cancellation. However, Egoh argued that those opposing the project had not proposed an alternative capable of meeting the region’s infrastructure needs.
“In spite of criticism, of Peter Obi and Atiku who said the project should be cancelled, they never gave you an alternative for the people of the South-South,” he said.
Egoh maintained that completing both the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the East-West Road would improve connectivity and support economic activity across the South-South region.