, has dismissed calls from the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) urging him to run for president in 2027.){kind=link}
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North and chairing the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), has dismissed calls from the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) urging him to run for president in 2027.
The NYLF, a coalition of 40 groups, had suggested Kalu as a potential candidate, proposing either Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal or Adamawa State Governor Umar Fintiri as his running mate.
The group made this appeal during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
NYLF President Eliot Afiyo identified Obasanjo as the forum’s patron and listed Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, along with Kalu, as their top choices for the 2027 election.
However, Kalu, through a statement issued by his media office and signed by George Maduka, firmly distanced himself from any presidential ambition, emphasizing his commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and dismissed speculation about internal party conflicts over the 2027 presidential ticket.
“The idea of Senator Kalu running for president in 2027 is completely off the table. He has publicly declared his support for President Tinubu’s re-election and remains focused on backing his administration’s policies,” the statement read.
Kalu highlighted Tinubu’s economic policies as essential for national stability and development, stressing that the president needs the full eight-year tenure to achieve meaningful reforms.
“Ensuring economic stability requires long-term planning, inclusivity, and adaptability. For this reason, President Tinubu deserves to complete his tenure to fully implement these policies,” he stated.
Kalu, who has shared a long-standing relationship with Tinubu since their governorship days in 1999, commended the president’s bold approach to economic challenges.
He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s leadership and work towards his re-election.
“No Nigerian leader has taken on the difficult task of reforming the economy like President Tinubu. Now that he has embarked on this journey, the best course of action is to support him and ensure his re-election in 2027,” Kalu affirmed.
He also advised opposition figures to focus on their own ambitions rather than attempting to involve him in their political battles.