Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has predicted that Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, will soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing him as a natural progressive whose ideals align with those of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kalu, a former Abia State governor and current senator representing Abia North, made the remark while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday.
He said Soludo, who is currently a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), would eventually find political alignment with the APC once ongoing legal issues are resolved.
“Soludo is a progressive like President Tinubu, like me, like the Senate President. He has no alternative but to join us in the APC,” Kalu said.
The senator noted that several governors and politicians across Nigeria were already gravitating toward the ruling party, attracted by what he described as President Tinubu’s visionary and inclusive leadership style.
He added that no one was being coerced into joining the APC.
“No one is forcing anybody to join the APC — not me, not the Senate President, not even the President. People are coming on their own because they see the direction of progress,” he stated.
Kalu, a key figure within the APC since its formation, said he was committed to strengthening the party’s influence in the South East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also pledged support for his younger brother’s political ambitions under the APC platform while ruling out backing any candidate from other parties.
Turning to national politics, Kalu reaffirmed his support for the Tinubu administration, expressing confidence that ongoing reforms would stabilise the economy and restore public confidence.
“At the beginning, there were rumours about moves to remove the Senate President, but as you can see, everything is calm. The Senate is united and focused on passing laws that will help President Tinubu deliver on his agenda,” he said.
On the current economic hardship, Kalu admitted that Nigerians were facing difficulties but urged patience, insisting that reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification would yield results in the medium term.
“As a businessman, I feel the pain but also see the progress. The macroeconomic indicators are improving, though the micro level remains tough. The key challenge now is ensuring that relief reaches the masses,” he explained.
Assessing the political landscape ahead of 2027, Kalu said President Tinubu remained the most dominant figure in Nigerian politics.
“The 2027 election will be Tinubu versus Tinubu,” he declared. “There is no cohesive opposition. Our party is strong, grounded, and with the people.”
Kalu, who maintains close ties with American politicians, also addressed the controversy surrounding former US President Donald Trump’s recent comments about violence in Nigeria.
He said Trump’s remarks on religious killings were not misplaced, adding that both Christians and Muslims continued to suffer from extremist attacks.
“Let’s be honest, what Trump said is not a lie. Nigerians are being killed whether they are Christians or Muslims,” he said. “If they attack in Plateau, the victims are mostly Christians; in Zamfara, they are Muslims. These people are terrorists and must be called by their name.”
Kalu revealed that he had spoken with two former US presidents and more than 60 lawmakers in Washington, who expressed willingness to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts. He said the recent increase in Nigerian Air Force operations might be connected to intelligence sharing with the United States.
He, however, criticised the US and its allies for contributing to regional instability following the fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, saying the resulting arms proliferation worsened Africa’s security challenges.
Despite the security and economic pressures, Kalu maintained that Nigeria was on a path to recovery.
“The government is taking the right steps, and I believe President Tinubu will overcome these challenges,” he said.
