2027: Onoh Warns South-East Against Political Attacks as Obi Debate Intensifies
Political debate in the South-East has taken another turn ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Enugu State lawmaker Josef Onoh urging politicians in the region to avoid personal attacks against former Anambra State governor Peter Obi.
Onoh, a former South-East spokesman for President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, argued that political differences are a normal part of democracy but should not develop into personal attacks that could affect the region’s wider political interests.
His intervention comes amid recent public exchanges involving Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Minister of Works David Umahi and other political actors. (Vanguard News)
Onoh shifts focus to regional political influence
Onoh’s argument goes beyond the immediate disagreements involving Obi.
He said politicians in the South-East should consider how public disputes could affect the region’s ability to negotiate and participate effectively in national politics.
According to him, political actors can support different parties and candidates while still maintaining a level of respect that allows the region to pursue common interests.
He described regional unity as an important political asset and urged politicians to distinguish between legitimate electoral competition and personal attacks. (The Guardian Nigeria)
Why Peter Obi remains central to the debate
Obi remains a major figure in the political conversation surrounding the South-East after his 2023 presidential campaign on the Labour Party platform.
He is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, adding another dimension to the political contest.
In recent weeks, Obi himself has called for issue-based campaigns and urged the media to hold politicians accountable based on their records, qualifications, policies and campaign promises rather than allowing elections to become dominated by name-calling and personal attacks. (Vanguard News)
That position overlaps with Onoh’s call for restraint, although the two politicians are approaching the broader political debate from different political positions.
Soludo, Umahi exchanges add to political tension
Onoh’s comments followed public exchanges involving Soludo and Umahi.
The former South-East campaign spokesman said political disagreements between prominent figures should not become a reason to undermine politicians from the region.
His intervention does not remove the right of politicians to criticise one another or challenge one another’s records. Instead, he argued that criticism should remain within the boundaries of political competition rather than become personal.
The distinction is increasingly relevant as parties and candidates begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.
South-East politics enters a new phase
The region’s political landscape ahead of 2027 is more fragmented than a simple contest between two major parties.
Politicians from the South-East are operating across different political platforms, while individual candidates are developing their own alliances and campaign structures.
Obi is now contesting under the NDC, while Tinubu is seeking another term on the APC platform. Other political parties and candidates are also preparing for the election.
The result is a political environment in which regional interests, party loyalties and individual ambitions increasingly overlap.
Onoh’s own political history adds context
Onoh’s intervention also carries particular political context because of his previous role as a South-East spokesman for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign.
His latest comments are therefore not an endorsement of Obi’s candidacy. Rather, he is arguing that attacks on a prominent South-East politician could have consequences for the region beyond the immediate presidential contest.
He has previously commented on disputes involving APC figures and opposition politicians, including disagreements surrounding the party’s 2027 strategy. (The Guardian Nigeria)
Issue-based campaigns become a recurring theme
The controversy comes as several politicians and political groups increasingly call for campaigns to focus on policies and governance.
Obi recently told Nigerian editors that political campaigns should concentrate on issues such as governance, security, unity and economic prosperity.
He also urged journalists to question candidates directly about their records and claims rather than allowing political surrogates to dominate public discussions. (Vanguard News)
The emphasis on issue-based campaigning is likely to become more prominent as the 2027 election approaches and parties begin presenting their competing programmes to voters.
The bigger question for the South-East
The central issue raised by Onoh is whether political competition within the South-East can coexist with efforts to maintain a common regional voice.
Politicians are free to support different parties and candidates, and voters will ultimately make their choices at the ballot box. But Onoh argues that maintaining respectful political engagement could help prevent electoral disagreements from becoming broader divisions.
With the 2027 campaign period approaching, the debate over Obi therefore extends beyond one politician.
It reflects a wider question about how South-East political actors balance individual ambitions, party competition and regional interests in an increasingly competitive national political environment.
