Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, serving as the Senate Committee Chairman on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the representative for Abia North, has turned down the Northern Youth Leaders Forum’s (NYLF) invitation to launch a presidential bid in 2027.
In a statement, Kalu reaffirmed his steadfast backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The NYLF, a coalition comprising 40 influential groups, recently met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and pressed for a reshuffling of the presidential ticket.
NYLF President, Comrade Eliot Afiyo, had proposed Senator Kalu or Labour Party’s Peter Obi as leading candidates, with Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State or Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State as potential running mates.
However, Kalu was quick to dismiss the proposal, emphasizing that his political agenda remains focused on supporting the current administration.
“The presidency in 2027 is not on my agenda. I have every right to choose my path, and I have chosen to stand firmly behind President Tinubu,” he declared.
George Maduka, on behalf of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s Media Office, in a statement, highlighted the need for political stability and economic continuity, quoted Kalu lauded Tinubu’s ambitious economic reforms aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s economy.
“Since the return of independence, no leader has shown the boldness to overhaul our economic framework as Tinubu has. For the sake of our nation’s prosperity, we must let him complete the transformative work he has begun,” he stated.
Kalu’s message was a caution to political opponents to focus on their own campaigns instead of trying to drag him into conflicts.
His declaration of support for Tinubu is seen as a strategic move to ensure that the current administration’s reforms are not disrupted by political distractions as the nation edges closer to the 2027 elections.
Kalu, however, appealed to all political stakeholders, calling for unity and concentration on long-term national interests rather than short-term partisan battles.
