Northern Igbo Assembly disavows Tinubu endorsement, demands retraction

The Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), representing Ndigbo across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, has disavowed reports that it endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The Assembly said it had not authorised, adopted or endorsed any presidential candidate, describing reports of an endorsement and a purported target of two million votes for Tinubu as unauthorised and misleading.

In a statement signed by its President-General, Chief Kenneth Okeugo, and Secretary-General, Hon. Donatus Nwugo, the IDA said it was still evaluating presidential contenders before taking a position on who would best advance the interests of Ndigbo.

The Assembly said its assessment covers candidates’ programmes, policies, antecedents and commitments, particularly on the security, economic well-being and political future of Ndigbo in northern Nigeria and the country at large.

It subsequently demanded that Chief Amechi Onwe, identified in reports as Director-General of the group purportedly making the endorsement, immediately retract the statement and publicly clarify that the IDA has not endorsed any presidential candidate.

The Assembly warned that no individual or group had the authority to make political commitments in its name without approval from its appropriate organs.

It also rejected the reported two-million-vote target, describing it as a “gross underestimation” of the electoral strength of Ndigbo resident across the North and FCT.

According to the IDA, its political position will emerge only after a committee headed by one of its zonal Deputy President-Generals completes an assessment of the political landscape and submits its report.

The report will subsequently be considered at the Assembly’s last quarterly meeting preceding the 2027 presidential election.

Until that process is concluded, the Assembly said, no person or organisation is authorised to commit it to any presidential candidate.

The IDA urged Ndigbo and the general public to disregard the purported endorsement and rely only on statements issued through its authorised channels and designated officers.