Nwaeze David Umahi

David Nweze Umahi (born 25 July 1963) is a Nigerian politician who serves as the minister of works of Nigeria. He previously served as the senator representing Ebonyi South senatorial district from June to August 2023, and as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023; and deputy governor from 2011 to 2015. On 16 August 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed him as Minister of Works following his nomination, screening, and approval by the Senate. He was sworn into office on 21 August 2023.

Umahi was born on 25 July 1964. He is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, now in Ebonyi State. Umahi received his secondary education from Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before attending the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.

In 1990, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited with Ombo Isokarari and served as its general manager until 1993. Until 2011, he served as chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd., Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd. He is from a home of nine comprising two females and seven males, including Major-General Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd.), the former chairman of the South-East Security Committee, Ebubeagu, who resigned in May 2021. Roy Umahi Nwaeze, a legal practitioner, and Austin Umahi Nweze, who was the former South-East vice chairman of the People's Democratic Party.

Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People's Democratic Party. From 2009 to 2011, he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman. In 2011, Umahi became the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with the then-Governor Martin Elechi. However, in 2014, Governor Elechi supported Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, as his successor, which Umahi stated violated an understanding. Umahi went ahead to defeat Chukwu in the primaries.

The remainder of Elechi's term was chaotic, with arson hitting the House of Assembly in February 2015 and motions taken to impeach him later that month over alleged unconstitutional gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds, and anti-party activities. Umahi was elected to the role of Governor on 12 April 2015 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The election was later challenged by the Labour Party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and All Progressives Grand Alliance on the basis of 'widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property.' In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal. On 16 March 2019, Umahi was re-elected as governor in the Ebonyi state governorship election, polling 393,343 votes to defeat APC’s Sonny Ogbuoji, who polled 81,703 votes.

Umahi won the APC Ebonyi South Senatorial district elections in 2022. On 11 November 2020, Umahi declared his intention to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) and officially defected to the party on 17 November 2020 after long speculation. His reasons included the PDP's perceived unfairness toward the Southeast Geopolitical Zone and its alleged hijacking by individuals. He denied joining the APC for a presidential ticket, stating he would quit politics after his tenure as governor. President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated his defection, calling it a bold step driven by principle.

On 11 January 2022, Umahi declared his intention to run for the office of President of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections after consulting with President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared the APC leader. This contradicted his earlier statement about quitting politics after his governor tenure. On 8 March 2022, Umahi and his deputy Eric Kelechi Igwe were sacked as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State by the Federal High Court in Abuja for defecting to the APC while in office. The court ruled that the popular votes Umahi received belonged to the PDP, and by defecting, the office ceased to be theirs. The court ordered the PDP to submit a new gubernatorial candidate or face a fresh election.

On 11 March 2022, the State High Court granted Umahi and his deputy interim custody for seven days. On 1 April 2022, the Court of Appeal in Enugu State affirmed Umahi as Governor of Ebonyi State, stating his defection was immoral but not unconstitutional, while noting that the Federal High Court’s Abuja ruling was different. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has yet to hear the appeal of the Abuja Federal High Court’s judgment. In January 2021, Peoples Gazette reported that Umahi transferred over ₦3.6 billion in government funds to his company, Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited, from 2011 to his tenure as governor. Umahi and an aide threatened the newspaper’s reporters, blocked the website, and demanded a retraction and ₦1 billion 'atonement.' After the paper stood firm, Umahi sued for defamation and demanded ₦2 billion in damages.

Umahi is married to Rachael Umahi, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chukwu and Eunice Akpa of Umuobuna, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.