Senator Orji Kalu: I Was Mocked When I Joined APC in 2016, Now We Have Governors and Lawmakers

Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not depend on defections or the influence of sitting governors to win the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News Journalists’ Hangout anchored by Babajide Otitoju on Monday, Kalu reflected on his early days in the APC and the ridicule he faced when he joined the party in 2016.

“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,” Kalu said. “But I stood my ground and kept assuring the party leadership that it would be well. 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 emphasized that the APC’s growth in the South-East was achieved through dedication and persistence, not political opportunism. “We are not relying on governors or defections to win. We are relying on hard work. Politics is about commitment and results, not noise,” he said. “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.”

The Abia North Senator expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will perform better in the South-East during the next general elections, citing increased public confidence in the APC and ongoing infrastructure projects across the region.

“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. Our people are beginning to see progress in roads and infrastructure. The President has opened up roads long abandoned, and he’s doing more,” he said.

When asked about the long-standing debate on the marginalisation of the South-East, Kalu said the region’s political setback dates back to the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War.

“I can always tell you that the South-East is not really marginalised, but we were put out of the scheme of things since after the civil war,” he said. “I didn’t start the war, I didn’t fight in it, neither did I end it. What we need is sincerity and equity so that we can all move together and develop the country.”

Commenting on the case of the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Kalu urged Nigerians 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 said. “Justice Omotosho is handling the matter, and we should allow the courts to do their work. Nigerians must learn to respect the judiciary.”

Senator Kalu expressed faith in President Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary adjustments that will yield long-term benefits despite current challenges.

“Reforms come with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nigerians are feeling pain, yes, but these pains will lead to long-term gain. 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,” he stated.

He also praised the ongoing federal road projects connecting Enugu, Lokpanta, Aba, Port Harcourt, Bende, and Arochukwu, noting that the Tinubu administration has shown commitment to improving infrastructure in the South-East.

“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,” Kalu said.