The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, has said his team was almost discouraged from taking its campaign to the South-East because of the perception that the region belongs entirely to Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Makinde, however, said the warning would not stop him from taking his party’s message to the South-East ahead of the 2027 general election.

He made the remarks on Thursday at the APM Town Hall Meeting in Enugu, where he urged Nigerians to reject what he described as visions that divide the country along tribal lines.

“We were almost discouraged we were coming to Peter Obi's region that the South-East belongs to him totally, but we will still bring our message anyways. Reject all visions across tribal lines,” Makinde said.

The APM presidential candidate’s remarks come amid political realignments and growing efforts by presidential hopefuls to consolidate support across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obi, who secured substantial support in the South-East during the 2023 presidential election, remains a major political figure in the region.

2027: We were discouraged entering Peter Obi’s stronghold – Makinde

O.J. Aboje, counsel to former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has reacted to the Abuja Federal High Court judgment which removed incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.

DAILY POST reports that the court, on Thursday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to publish Okorocha's name as the authentic winner of the APC senatorial primary election.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment, also restrained Governor Uzodinma from parading himself as the ruling party's senatorial candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.

The court held that Uzodinma did not win the party's primary election conducted on May 18, 2026.

Reacting to the judgment, Okorocha's lawyer, who addressed journalists at the court premises, expressed excitement over the development.

He also declared that his client won the primary election, alleging that the ruling party wrongly submitted Uzodinma's name to INEC as its candidate.

He said, "The court was convinced that the primary election was won by Rochas Okorocha but most unfortunately, APC forwarded the name of the wrong person. Someone who does not win in the election.

"The court decided that at this juncture, the party does not have the right to forward the name of someone who does not win the election.

"Okorocha won the election and the court has ordered his name to be published. We give God the glory and we congratulate Rochas Okorocha and the people of his zone."

Uzodinma: Okorocha’s lawyer excited as court orders INEC to publish ex-gov’s name as APC candidate