Abuja, Nigeria – Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a prominent federal lawmaker and former Governor of Abia State, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has only one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections: President Bola Tinubu. Kalu made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, emphasizing that Tinubu must complete an eight-year tenure in office.
While advocating for the eventual emergence of an Igbo president, Kalu clarified that such a prospect would not materialize in 2027. He stressed that the Igbo must present a candidate acceptable to all Nigerians when the time comes, noting that no single zone can solely determine the presidency.
“I am not going to discuss anything about the Igbo presidency. But I still tell you there is a need for it. The Igbo must present an acceptable candidate to all Nigerians. No one zone can make a president. President Tinubu was not elected by the Yoruba. He was elected by all Nigerians,” Kalu stated.
Kalu expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, citing the president’s efforts to repair the economy and his focus on governance over politics. He revealed that the APC has already mandated Tinubu to run for a second term, with the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) passing a vote of confidence in the president.
“Well, in our party, we have only one presidential candidate now. And Tinubu has to do eight years. It’s a must. You can see the repairs he has done to the economy, and things are starting to pick up again. This president is not even doing politics. He has never told anybody he wants to run for election or not. But as a party, we have mandated him to run and given him a vote of confidence. The NEC has given him a vote of confidence, through a motion proposed by the Governor of Imo State and announced by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who is the National Chairman of the party,” Kalu explained.
Kalu’s remarks underscore the APC’s unified stance on Tinubu’s candidacy for the 2027 elections, while also highlighting the broader political dynamics surrounding regional representation and the quest for an Igbo presidency. His comments reflect the party’s confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and its commitment to ensuring stability and continuity in governance.
As the political landscape evolves, Kalu’s statements are likely to spark further discussions about power rotation, regional equity, and the APC’s strategy for the 2027 presidential election.