The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, has been drawn to the statement credited to the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, claiming that the South-East Governors have resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

COSEYL unequivocally declared that Governor Uzodimma’s declaration is his personal political opinion and that of any governor who chooses to associate with it, adding that it is neither the collective position nor the mandate of the people of the South-East.

He said: “No governor, irrespective of his office or political affiliation, possesses the constitutional, political or moral authority to mortgage the votes of the people of the South-East or to make electoral commitments on their behalf.”

While stating that the era when a handful of political officeholders presumed they could dictate the democratic choices of millions of citizens is over, the body maintained that South-East has not taken any position on the 2027 presidential election.

He said: “The region has not endorsed any candidate, political party or political arrangement.”

COSEYL said that when the time comes, the people will freely evaluate every aspirant based on competence, justice, equity, national inclusion, security, economic performance and commitment to addressing the legitimate aspirations of Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole.

The body reminded Governor Uzodimma that the governors of the South-East will not determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, in a democracy, sovereignty belongs to the people, not to elected officials, adding that every vote belongs to an individual citizen, not to a governor.

COSEYL therefore cautioned political leaders against creating the false impression that the South-East has surrendered its democratic right to negotiate, deliberate and decide its political future.

They observed that such sweeping declarations are misleading, presumptuous and disrespectful to millions of Igbo voters whose voices cannot be appropriated by anyone.

He said that while every governor has the constitutional right to support any presidential candidate of his choice, the right remains strictly personal and political.

They warned that it must not be presented as the collective decision of an entire region without consultation or the consent of the people.

They said: “The South-East is politically conscious and cannot be taken for granted. Our people are intelligent, independent-minded and fully capable of making informed electoral decisions without coercion, intimidation or political endorsements made on their behalf”.

They pointed out that those occupying public office today will eventually leave office, but the people will remain, adding that it is the people who bear the consequences of governance, and it is the people who will ultimately decide who deserves their mandate in 2027.

COSEYL called on all political parties and presidential aspirants to engage the South-East with sincerity, respect and concrete programmes rather than relying on endorsements from political elites, adding that support of the South-East must be earned through demonstrated commitment to justice, fairness, equity, infrastructure, security, economic empowerment and the full integration of the region into the Nigerian federation.

The PG urged the good people of the South-East to remain vigilant, united and resolute, insisting that no individual or group should assume the authority to negotiate away the political future of our people.

He maintained that South-East’s votes are not for sale, not transferable and not subject to the personal preferences of any elected official.

COSEYL said that the 2027 presidential election will be decided by the Nigerian people, including the millions of voters in the South-East, assuring that when that time comes, they will exercise their constitutional right freely, independently and without external imposition. (Nigerian Tribune)

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