By Daniel Nduka Okonkwo
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, recently urged Ndigbo to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, warning against what he described as “wasted votes” on candidates like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. His message, delivered in Igbo, framed the 2023 voting pattern in the South East as politically ineffective and called for a more strategic, bargaining-driven approach going forward.
At face value, this may sound like pragmatic politics. In reality, it raises a deeper and more troubling question: should the votes of the people be reduced to mere bargaining chips?
Governor Soludo’s argument rests on political realism. In his view, power is not conceded on moral grounds but negotiated through strategic alignment. Votes, therefore, must serve as leverage, not just expression. From this standpoint, supporting candidates who cannot secure a national victory amounts to political waste. His conclusion is clear: the South East must align with the centre of power or risk continued marginalisation.
It is a position rooted in calculation. But it is also one that risks stripping politics of its moral core.
The fundamental flaw in this argument lies in its assumption that Ndigbo require direction on how to vote. They do not. The Igbo electorate has consistently demonstrated a high level of political awareness, shaped by history, exclusion, and a deep desire for fairness within the Nigerian federation. Their choices are not accidental, they are deliberate.
To suggest that their votes in 2023 were “wasted” is to dismiss the very essence of democratic participation. Votes are not merely instruments for accessing power; they are expressions of belief, protest, identity, and vision.
If an administration is truly delivering results, citizens will not need to be persuaded through warnings about wasted votes. Support will come naturally, driven by trust and visible progress. Anything short of that invites scrutiny, not submission. Reducing electoral choice to bargaining alone transforms citizens into political tools rather than active participants in shaping their future.
The 2023 election was not just another electoral cycle in the South East, it was a statement. The overwhelming support for Peter Obi reflected more than ethnic solidarity. It signaled a demand for a different kind of leadership, one perceived to be closer to accountability, reform, and inclusion. That choice came despite structural disadvantages and against prevailing political calculations. It reaffirmed a long-standing Igbo tradition: the willingness to stand by conviction, even when it does not immediately translate into power.
At the same time, issues such as voter apathy, insecurity, and distrust in electoral processes remain real challenges. These factors, not a lack of political strategy, are what shape participation.
Governor Soludo’s comments highlight a real tension in Nigerian politics: the pull between pragmatism and principle. Yes, politics involves negotiation. Yes, alliances matter. But when strategy begins to override conscience, democracy itself is weakened.
The strength of the Igbo voter has never been in aligning blindly with power, but in the courage to make independent choices. That independence should not be reframed as an error simply because it does not serve immediate political convenience. Ndigbo are not strangers to political calculation. What they reject is the idea that calculation must replace conviction. Their votes are not for bargaining alone, they are for expression, for justice, and for the kind of Nigeria they believe is still possible.
Peter Obi is repositioning ahead of 2027, with reports of alignment with the African Democratic Congress as part of a broader coalition strategy. If sustained, this move could redefine opposition politics. Obi retains strong support among young voters and across the South East. However, national victory will depend on more than regional loyalty. It will require a cohesive coalition, particularly across Northern blocs, and a unified opposition front.
On the other side, incumbency remains a powerful advantage for President Tinubu, with the structures of governance and party machinery firmly in place. The real contest in 2027 will not simply be about regions or personalities. It will be about whether Nigerians choose power as it is, or demand leadership as it should be.
Daniel Nduka Okonkwo is a Nigerian investigative journalist, publisher of Profiles International Human Rights Advocate, and policy analyst whose work focuses on governance, institutional accountability, and political power. He is also a human rights activist, human rights advocate, and human rights journalist. His reporting and analysis have appeared in Sahara Reporters, African Defence Forum, Daily Intel Newspapers, Opinion Nigeria, African Angle, and other international media platforms. He writes from Nigeria and can be reached at dan.okonkwo.73@gmail.com.
