Tinubu Uses Infrastructure and Regionalism to Expand APC South East Base

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is executing a strategic effort to increase the All Progressives Congress's (APC) political footprint in Nigeria's South East region before the 2027 elections. Following a significant vote deficit in 2023, the administration is attempting to shift regional perception from federal neglect to inclusion by linking economic empowerment with political realignment.

To redraw the political map, the administration is prioritizing high-impact infrastructure, including the ANOH gas project and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Minister of Works David Nweze Umahi noted that some current federal projects were conceived during the colonial era. Additionally, Tinubu has appointed South Easterners to strategic federal roles, such as Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. These efforts have helped the APC grow its state-level presence in the zone from zero in 2019 to three states.

Parallel to these regional efforts, Tinubu is implementing a policy of regional federalism intended to shift power from the federal center to regional units. This strategy involves regionalizing state institutions, pushing for a State Police Bill, and removing fuel subsidies to increase state allocations. This approach mirrors the vision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to strengthen regional autonomy.

Regional leaders, including Governors Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti, and Hope Uzodimma, have expressed support for these reforms. Governor Uzodimma, who serves as Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, has actively campaigned for the president's reelection.