Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has said the South-East should wait for a future opportunity to produce Nigeria’s president, arguing that the current political period belongs to President Bola Tinubu.

Umahi made the remarks on Thursday in Benin while speaking about the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects and defending the Tinubu administration against criticism.

The minister was also responding to questions surrounding Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ahead of the 2027 election.

Umahi questioned claims that Obi was superior to him, saying such comparisons should be based on factors including their records in public office, contributions to the South-East and individual achievements.

He said he also had ambitions of becoming president but maintained that the South-East had not yet reached its turn.

“I want to be president, but it’s not yet our turn. It’s the turn of President Bola Tinubu,” Umahi said.

The minister said the South-East would eventually have its opportunity to produce the country’s president, adding that political opportunities would come at the appropriate time.

He also called on supporters of the Tinubu administration to highlight what he described as the President’s achievements across the country.

The comments have sparked criticism, particularly among those who argue that Nigeria’s informal power-sharing arrangement is based on rotation between the North and South rather than an individual’s claim to the presidency.

Some critics also argued that the South-East has not produced a president since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

Umahi’s remarks come as political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensifies, with Peter Obi among the politicians positioning themselves for the contest.