According to the report from the Sun, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu discussed how the decision to support an Igbo candidate in the 2023 election came about, explaining that the Southern and Middle Belt leaders' forum assessed candidates from each region and found the Southeast candidate to be the most suitable choice.
He noted that the forum resolved to endorse the Igbo candidate, leading to the backing of Peter Obi.
He acknowledged Peter Obi's clear victories in regions such as Lagos, Delta, Abuja, and the Middle Belt, while emphasizing that the forum's support for an Igbo candidate was not intended as opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He asserted that the forum genuinely believed it was the Southeast's turn to produce the president, highlighting the underlying principle of fairness and representation behind their decision.
He said, "Every zone during the 2023 election saw the Southeast candidate as the right person. The Southern and Middle Belt leaders’ forum resolved to support an Igbo candidate. This is how the support for Peter Obi came up. From the result of the election, Mr Peter Obi won clearly in Lagos, Delta, Abuja and many other places, including the Middle Belt. I must confess that the Southern and Middle Belt leaders’ forum has nothing against Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They were convinced in all honesty that it was the turn of the Southeast to produce the president."