The Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), has confidently declared that the All Progressives Congress will not be depending on political defections or the influence of sitting governors to secure victory in the 2027 presidential election. Instead, Kalu insists that the party’s rising profile, particularly in the South-East, is the direct result of tireless hard work, consistency, and sacrifice.
Speaking on Monday during a live media program, the former Abia State Governor recounted his challenging political journey after joining the APC in 2016.
The Fruits of Consistency
Kalu recalled how he was initially ridiculed and dismissed for being the only major political leader in the South-East to align with the then-nascent APC. “When I joined the APC in 2016, I was the only South-East leader in the party. People mocked me, called me names, and thought I was mad to have joined a party that had no governor or lawmaker from our region,” he said.
He maintained his conviction, however, assuring the party leadership that their effort would eventually pay off. That consistency has, according to him, changed the narrative entirely. “In 2019, I became the first senator elected on the APC platform from the South-East, and today the story has changed. We now have APC governors, senators, and House members across the zone.”
Kalu firmly stated that the party’s strategy going into 2027 is built on this grassroots commitment: “We are not relying on governors or defections to win. We are relying on hard work. Politics is about commitment and results, not noise. We are on the ground and determined to ensure that President Tinubu and all APC candidates perform well in 2027, especially in Abia and across the South-East.”
Progress and the Marginalization Debate
The former Chief Whip of the Senate expressed strong optimism that President Bola Tinubu will record significant success in the South-East during the next general elections. He cited growing public confidence in the APC-led government and visible development projects across the region as key drivers of this expected shift.
“In 2019, President Buhari got over 60% of the votes in my constituency, Abia North. Tinubu didn’t do well in 2023 because we didn’t mobilise enough, but this time, we are ready,” Kalu assured. He pointed to ongoing infrastructure improvements, including major federal road projects linking Enugu, Lokpanta, Aba, Port Harcourt, Bende, and Arochukwu. “Before now, those roads were impassable. Today, they are being rebuilt. The President is doing a lot in our region, and I’m confident that the 2026 budget will reflect even more development for our people.”
When questioned about his previous stance on the marginalization of the South-East, Kalu offered a nuanced perspective, saying the region has been “put out of the scheme of things” since the end of the civil war. “I can always tell you that the South-East is not really marginalised, but we were excluded since after the civil war,” he clarified. “I didn’t start the war, and I didn’t fight in it, nor did I end it. What we need is sincerity and equity so that we can all move together and develop the country.”
Tinubu’s Reforms and the Kanu Case
Addressing the current economic hardships resulting from President Tinubu’s reforms, Senator Kalu expressed confidence that the process is necessary and will yield positive results. “Reforms come with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nigerians are feeling pain, yes, but these pains will lead to long-term gain,” he noted, stressing the need for immediate palliatives. “I’ve already sponsored a bill on social welfare and investment to reduce poverty, and I’ll meet the President to fast-track it. We must show Nigerians that we have them in our hearts.”
On the matter of the detained IPOB secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Kalu urged the public to respect the judicial process. “Nnamdi Kanu’s case is before a competent court, and it would be unfair for me to comment on his release,” he stated. “Justice Omotosho is handling the matter, and we should allow the courts to do their work. Nigerians must learn to respect the judiciary.”
