A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr George Agbakahi, has explained the rationale behind the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by leaders of the party in the South-East.

Agbakahi said the decision reflects a growing consensus among APC stakeholders and supporters in the region that the Tinubu administration has delivered more infrastructural and institutional projects to the South-East than previous governments.

Speaking on Newsday, an Arise Television programme, Agbakahi noted that the adoption of Tinubu as the party’s preferred candidate by South-East APC leaders resonated beyond party lines.

He cited ongoing and completed projects such as the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, the dualisation of the Enugu Ninth Mile–Makurdi Road, as well as the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), as key factors driving support for the President in the zone.

According to him, the endorsement is also informed by the desire of the Igbo to return fully to the mainstream of national politics, arguing that alignment with the ruling party would improve the region’s chances of producing the president in the future.

“The South-East does not want to remain on the periphery of Nigerian politics. We believe that active participation in the mainstream will position us better nationally,” Agbakahi said.

He admitted that internal divisions within the APC contributed to the party’s poor showing in the 2023 general elections in the region, particularly in Enugu State, but said those mistakes had been addressed.

Agbakahi said APC leaders in the South-East, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma—recognized as the region’s political leader—alongside governors of Ebonyi and Enugu states, have since closed ranks to strengthen party unity.

“We have learned from the lack of cohesion that affected us in 2023. The leadership and stakeholders are now united, and that unity will reflect in future elections,” he added.

The APC chieftain also pointed out that the party currently controls three states in the region, with increased representation in the National and State Assemblies, alongside what he described as a fairer spread of federal projects.

Beyond the South-East, Agbakahi said the Tinubu administration has recorded notable national achievements, including improvements in foreign reserves, increased FAAC allocations to states, and a declining inflation rate.

He maintained that the APC remains the most viable political platform for the South-East at the moment, describing opposition parties as fragmented.

“Nigeria may be heading towards one-party dominance, not a one-party state. This has happened in other democracies at different times,” he said.

Agbakahi expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure re-election in 2027, stressing that sustained engagement with the ruling party would ultimately benefit the South-East politically and economically.