An influential coalition of Igbo youths has warned President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to rely on the assurances given by some Southeast governors ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group alleged that these governors are misleading the presidency and the ruling party with promises that do not reflect the true sentiments of the Igbo people.
The statement was issued by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the region’s foremost socio-political youth organization. The group claimed that some political actors in the Southeast are presenting a false picture of regional support for President Tinubu and the APC as part of a calculated political move aimed at securing personal favors.
COSEYL, in a strongly worded statement released to the press, asserted that the APC and President Tinubu should not mistake the political maneuvering of certain governors as representative of the entire Southeast. The youth group stressed that the majority of Igbo people have not forgotten past grievances, especially the perceived marginalization of the region in federal appointments and development initiatives.
According to the statement, Southeast governors currently trying to forge closer ties with the APC are doing so out of self-interest and are not carrying the people along in their decisions. COSEYL warned that these political moves would have no bearing on the voting behavior of the Igbo electorate in 2027.
The group further argued that the political promises being made by some governors to the Tinubu administration are hollow, lacking grassroots support. COSEYL emphasized that any electoral alliance formed on such deceptive grounds is bound to fail, as the Igbo people are politically aware and cannot be swayed by empty rhetoric.
They called on the APC leadership to engage directly with the people of the Southeast rather than relying solely on state leaders, whom they accused of failing to represent the genuine aspirations of the region. The youth body stated that the people of the Southeast are still demanding fairness, equity, and justice in Nigeria’s political structure and are not satisfied with symbolic political overtures.
In its remarks, COSEYL also pointed out that many of the Southeast governors now expressing support for President Tinubu and the APC were vocal critics of the administration during the 2023 election cycle. They questioned the sincerity of such sudden loyalty and warned the presidency against being misled by what they described as politically motivated sycophancy.
The coalition also reminded Tinubu of the need to address longstanding issues affecting the Southeast, including economic marginalization, infrastructure neglect, and insecurity, particularly in areas experiencing violence and social unrest. They said meaningful engagement with the people, not just political elites, is necessary if Tinubu seeks genuine support from the region in future elections.
COSEYL concluded its statement by urging Southeast governors to stop making promises on behalf of the region without consulting their constituents. The group maintained that any electoral outcome in 2027 would be determined by the will of the people and not by elite political bargaining.
