Sir: As Nigeria gradually approaches 2027, political permutations are already gathering momentum across the country. At the heart of these early alignments lies a crucial question: Who will drive President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in regions where the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeks deeper footholds?

In the South East, particularly in Enugu State, the answer does not require guesswork. One name continues to stand tall, not just for his loyalty but for his strategic relevance and unbroken grassroots connection, and that is Chief Uche Nnaji, the current Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology.

While many politicians in the region stood aloof or in outright opposition to President Tinubu’s emergence in 2023, Nnaji took a principled stand, flying the APC’s gubernatorial flag in a hostile political climate. His commitment to the party, the president and the idea of national integration, makes him not just a participant in the renewed hope project but a pillar of its future success in Enugu.

It is no secret that the APC remains politically isolated in most parts of the South East. In such an environment, loyalty is not mere symbolism, it is sacrificial leadership. Nnaji stood firm when many sought the convenient refuge of political expediency. His 2023 campaign, even though it fell short electorally, succeeded in planting a resilient structure for the APC across the 17 Local Councils of Enugu State. This loyalty should not be overlooked or taken for granted as 2027 approaches.

The Presidency and the APC national structure must resist the temptation to court familiar but flawed political names in Enugu; names that have proven either electorally irrelevant or disconnected from the masses.

For instance, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, could not deliver his own senatorial district in 2023. Despite his hold on the machinery of state power, he was overwhelmingly rejected by his own people. This wasn’t a misstep, it was a political obituary written by the grassroots. He is still in PDP. Is he the person that will galvanise for the president? How?

Governor Peter Mbah is in PDP and, while claiming to be interested in the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, he is simply looking for a political launch pad in the APC and not out of love for the party. He has said several times that he is not a politician and cannot play politics. This shows that his sudden interest in the APC is just for political survival.

Despite his incumbency, he faces growing discontent because of his type of pro-rich policies in Enugu. His governance has been described by many as elitist and tone-deaf, characterised by a top-down approach that has widened the gap between the government and the governed. The state’s poor handling of economic pressure, inflation and insecurity has left many disenfranchised.

The immediate past Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Josef Onoh, has become a symbol of urban aggression. His demolition campaign, targeting homes, shops, and long-standing businesses, has created deep social resentment. Instead of empathy and urban renewal, what many Enugu residents feel is displacement and betrayal.

Nnaji offers a vastly different approach. He is neither burdened by past governance failures nor detached from his people. His technocratic exposure, as a national minister, is balanced with street credibility and cultural resonance in Enugu communities. His emphasis on innovation, education, youth empowerment and digital skills matches the Tinubu administration’s long-term vision. He is the face of a new APC – clean, competent and inclusive.

The politics of 2027 must be grounded in truth and the APC cannot afford to gamble with recycled politicians, who have either lost elections or lost touch. The stakes are too high. Nnaji represents both continuity and credibility. He is one of the few Igbo leaders, who did not just support the president, but risked political capital to align openly with him.

If Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is to resonate in Enugu in 2027, it must wear Nnaji’s face. He is not just a political figure, he is a pivot, a stabiliser and a bridge between the South East and the nation’s centre of power.

• Chukwunonye Okereke, a political analyst, development advocate, and commentator on South East regional dynamics, wrote from Enugu.