‘I’ll Vote Tinubu, Even If It Costs Me My Life’ — Ebonyi Man Rejects Peter Obi, Cites Anambra-Ebonyi Tensions

An unidentified man from Ebonyi State has stirred political debate after reportedly declaring that he would vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather than Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, regardless of the personal consequences.

The man reportedly explained his position by pointing to his Ebonyi identity and Obi’s origin in neighbouring Anambra State.

According to the account circulating online, he argued that political solidarity among the Igbo should not automatically determine how people from individual South-East states vote.

The man reportedly said his decision was influenced by what he described as longstanding tensions between people from Ebonyi and Anambra.

He alleged that some people from Anambra have, in his view, failed to treat people from other Igbo states as equals and have instead discriminated against or resented fellow Igbo people from outside Anambra.

Those claims represent the individual's personal assessment and have not been established as a general position held by either Ebonyians or Anambra residents.

The comments come amid a renewed political debate in the South-East over whether regional identity should influence voting decisions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The position echoes arguments recently advanced by David Umahi, Minister of Works and former governor of Ebonyi State.

Umahi has urged Ebonyians not to support Peter Obi, questioning what he described as the former Anambra governor's record of including Ebonyi people in his administration.

In recent remarks reported in September, Umahi argued that Ebonyians were entitled to make their own political choices and should not be treated as second-class citizens within the South-East. He also challenged Obi to identify an Ebonyi indigene appointed to a significant position during Obi's tenure as Anambra governor.

Umahi's position has generated criticism from political figures in Anambra.

Hon. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, an NDC member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, recently accused Umahi of attempting to create division between Anambra and Ebonyi.

Umennajiego argued that relationships between people from different Igbo states remain strong and pointed to intermarriage, business relationships and the movement of Ebonyi indigenes to Anambra for commercial activities.

He also cited historical examples of Ebonyi and Anambra figures occupying prominent positions across the wider Igbo political structure.

The lawmaker said disagreements over political candidates should not be allowed to become a source of hostility between Igbo communities.

Obi Has Rejected Ethnic Profiling

The controversy also comes against the background of Obi's own recent comments on ethnicity.

In June 2026, the former Anambra governor and NDC presidential candidate condemned ethnic stereotyping, arguing that individuals should be judged by their conduct rather than their ethnic background.

Obi said he had personally experienced stereotyping because of his ethnic identity and argued that criminal acts committed by individuals should not be attributed to an entire ethnic group.

His position has been presented by supporters as evidence that his political message is not based on ethnic exclusion.

Political Choices in the South-East

The latest comments illustrate the increasingly contested political debate over the South-East ahead of the 2027 election.

While Obi enjoys significant support among sections of the South-East, his candidacy has also faced opposition from politicians and individuals within the region.

The disagreement is not limited to the Tinubu-Obi contest. It also reflects broader debates over whether South-East voters should vote as a bloc, prioritise candidates from the region, or make individual choices based on their assessment of national and state interests.

Recent commentary from both sides has highlighted competing narratives about inclusion, political representation and the treatment of people from different South-Eastern states.

The latest commentary accompanying the Ebonyi man's position argued that criticisms of Obi's politics should not automatically be dismissed as opposition propaganda simply because they come from outside the region.

However, one person's political preference cannot by itself establish that Ebonyians generally share the same view, just as criticism from an individual Anambra resident cannot establish a position for the entire state.

With the 2027 presidential election approaching, such competing voices are likely to remain part of the wider debate over regional identity, political representation and the choices voters in the South-East ultimately make.