A newly formed political group, South East Progressive Ambassadors (SEPA 2027), has declared its support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, calling on residents of the Southeast to align with the current political leadership and dismiss ongoing opposition coalition efforts.
The group, made up of young professionals from the region, was unveiled at a launch event in Abuja. In a statement jointly signed by the group’s convener, John Ikeotuonye; secretary, Justin Nwankwo; and leader of its women’s wing, Vivian Nnajiofor, SEPA 2027 said it intends to mobilise grassroots support and engage in policy advocacy ahead of the next general elections.
“We are setting out to consolidate support for President Tinubu’s administration in the South-East,” the group said in its address, stating that efforts by some opposition figures to build new political alliances should not derail the region from engaging with what it described as the current political reality.
According to the group, young professionals in the Southeast need to organise themselves around clear political objectives rather than remain fragmented.
They cited the presence of multiple political parties across the region’s five states as a symptom of disunity, adding that a unified position would give the zone better leverage in national politics.
“The most strategic response at this time is to be part of the national political movement, not to pursue relevance from the outside,” the group stated. “We risk further isolation if we ignore this opportunity.”
The group referenced ongoing national realignments, particularly among political actors from the North, and said it was concerned that the South-East could be left behind if similar steps are not taken.
It also pointed to specific federal initiatives in the region under Tinubu’s administration, including the establishment of the South East Development Commission and road infrastructure projects, as evidence of what it called “a basis for engagement.”
The event also featured remarks from Dr. Sulaimon Lateef Adegboyega, the Ogun State coordinator of the City Boy Movement, who encouraged the South-East to work with Tinubu’s administration in what he described as “a period of political recalibration.”
SEPA 2027 said it plans to pursue community-level engagement and advocacy throughout the region in collaboration with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.
