Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated his call for a public debate with the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, insisting that he is effectively “on the ballot” in the 2027 presidential election.
Umahi said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid makes him part of the ticket, stressing that he wants the current administration to secure another term to complete its ongoing infrastructure projects.
“I’ve told him that I’m on the ballot. When President Bola Tinubu is on the ballot, I’m on the ballot because I don’t want these projects to stop. I want them completed, so I want all of us to win with President Tinubu,” he said.
The minister dismissed the notion that only presidential candidates are qualified to engage in such debates, arguing that being a presidential candidate is not an achievement in itself.
He maintained that he does not need to contest for the presidency to explain or defend the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure agenda, saying he is well-positioned to discuss the government’s road projects and development efforts.
Umahi also accused Obi of misrepresenting ongoing federal road projects by visiting construction sites and portraying them as abandoned.
Reaffirming his readiness for the debate, the minister said he remains willing to engage Obi directly, insisting he would not debate anyone else on the matter.
