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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), representing Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has disowned the purported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, insisting that it has not adopted any presidential candidate.
The assembly also rejected a reported pledge to deliver two million votes to Tinubu, describing the figure as a “gross underestimation” of the electoral strength of Ndigbo residents in the North.
In a statement jointly signed by its President-General, Chief Ken Okeugo, and Secretary-General, Donatus Nwugo, IDA demanded an immediate retraction of the endorsement attributed to Chief Amechi Onwe, who was described as Director-General of the Igbo Political Movement of the Igbo Delegates Assembly.
The statement, entitled, “Disclaimer, Demand for Retraction and Official Position on the Purported 2027 Presidential Endorsement,” said no individual or group had been authorised to commit the assembly to any candidate.
“The Igbo Delegates Assembly wishes to state categorically that it is NOT a party to, and has NOT authorised, endorsed or adopted, at this time, any presidential candidate for the 2027 election,” it said.
IDA said it was still assessing the presidential contenders, their programmes, policies, antecedents and commitments before deciding which candidate best serves the interests of Ndigbo in the North.
“We therefore unequivocally dissociate the Igbo Delegates Assembly from the purported endorsement and any statement suggesting that the Assembly has taken a final position on the 2027 Presidential Election,” it said. The assembly specifically asked Onwe to retract the statement and publicly clarify that IDA had not endorsed Tinubu or any other candidate.
“In view of the foregoing, the Assembly calls on Chief Amechi Onwe, who has been quoted as the Director-General of the group purportedly making the endorsement, to immediately retract the statement and clarify publicly that the Igbo Delegates Assembly has not endorsed any presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
“We consider it inappropriate for any individual or group to make a political commitment in the name of the Igbo Delegates Assembly without the authorisation of its appropriate organs.” IDA also challenged the reported two-million-vote target, saying Ndigbo across the North constitute a much larger electoral constituency.
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“The purported target of two million votes attributed to Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria is, in our considered view, a gross underestimation of the electoral strength and political value of our people.
“Ndigbo resident across the 19 Northern States and the FCT constitute a substantial electoral constituency with millions of potential voters and cannot be reduced to a two-million-vote political bargaining figure.
“The Assembly will, therefore, not allow the electoral strength of Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria to be casually appropriated or presented as having been committed to any political candidate without due consultation and authorisation.”
The assembly said it had constituted a committee headed by one of its zonal deputy presidents-general to assess the presidential candidates, their programmes and positions on issues affecting Ndigbo.
It said any decision on whom to support would only be taken after the committee submits its report for consideration by the assembly.
“The Assembly shall address the question of adoption or support for any presidential candidate only after the committee has submitted its report and the report has been considered at the Assembly’s last Quarterly Meeting preceding the 2027 Presidential Election.
“Until that process is concluded, no individual, group or organisation is authorised to commit the Igbo Delegates Assembly to any presidential candidate.”
IDA urged Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and the FCT to disregard reports that it had endorsed Tinubu and await the outcome of its consultative process.
It also advised the media and the public to rely only on its authorised channels and designated officers for information on its political decisions, warning that statements by unauthorised individuals or groups should not be construed as the position of the assembly.
