Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abia State, Nigeria — In a strategic appeal to political actors and voters in Nigeria’s South‑East geopolitical zone, Dr. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged Igbos to support the re‑election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a series of high‑profile engagements across all three senatorial districts of Abia State on Monday, Kalu framed the choice as an opportunity to strengthen the bargaining power of the Igbo within the nation’s political architecture.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency and is a senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), delivered the message as part of an intensive political outreach to consolidate the party’s grassroots structures ahead of a pivotal election cycle. His tour included courtesy calls on key stakeholders across Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South zones, where he outlined his perspective on the dynamics of national politics and the strategic value of aligning with the ruling party.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, the Deputy Speaker articulated a political theory aimed at transforming the South‑East’s electoral engagements from emotive responses into calculated investment decisions. “If you carry your vote and dump it where it does not count towards success, you have wasted your opportunity to go to the negotiation table,” Kalu said, urging Igbo voters to treat their votes not as tokens of sentiment, but as “currency for investment” that could yield concrete dividends for the region.
According to Kalu, the South‑East has long sought stronger representation and influence in federal decision‑making processes, aspirations that can only be realised through deliberate political alliances. He holds that backing President Tinubu’s re‑election is the most viable route for the Igbo to enhance their standing and secure a more favourable negotiating position in Nigeria’s multi‑ethnic power matrix.
“What you play politics with is numbers, not sentiment. The vote we have in our hands is the currency for investment,” he said, stressing that strategic engagement with the centre would pave the way toward deeper trust, inclusion and reciprocity. “President Bola Tinubu is where we should invest our votes, and it will count. That is the political reality today,” Kalu added, calling on Igbo leaders and voters to “set aside emotions and focus on strategic outcomes.”
Kalu further aligned his message with President Tinubu’s call for unity and inclusiveness at the start of the New Year, emphasising that Nigerians must transcend narrow political interests and work toward sustained engagement across party lines. He insisted that internal cohesion within the APC, particularly among South‑East stakeholders, is critical to ensuring both national stability and equitable representation for the zone.
During his tour of Abia, Kalu held meetings with a broad cross‑section of party elders and political heavyweights, including former Governor and ex‑Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator John Nwannunu, and prominent APC chieftain Sir Mac Wabara, former Managing Director of the defunct Hallmark Bank. The discussions, as outlined in the statement, centred on the themes of party unity, grassroots mobilisation and sustained collaboration among stakeholders in the lead‑up to 2027.
In the course of his engagements, the Deputy Speaker also presented a two‑year legislative scorecard to his colleagues and senior statesmen, inviting an open assessment of his performance in the National Assembly. The scorecard, which highlighted his legislative initiatives and constituency investments, was positioned as a demonstration of his commitment to accountability and effective representation.
Kalu used the platform to reassure party elders and constituents that the APC has the structure, momentum and political capital necessary to deliver an outright victory for President Tinubu in Abia and across the South‑East in the 2027 polls. He expressed confidence that renewed unity and growing grassroots support would solidify the party’s presence in a region where political dynamics have historically been fluid and, at times, inhospitable to the ruling party.
Observers note that Kalu’s appeal comes at a time when political realignments and debates over the future trajectory of Nigeria’s governance are intensifying. The South‑East has frequently voiced concerns about marginalisation in federal appointments and resource allocation, sparking demands for power rotation, particularly to the region’s political elite. In this context, Kalu’s argument underscores a pragmatic approach — one grounded in electoral strategy and long‑term positioning rather than immediate ideological concessions.
Political analysts view the Deputy Speaker’s interventions as reflective of a broader conversation within the APC about how to broaden its appeal and strengthen its support base in regions outside its traditional strongholds. By advocating for strategic support for the incumbent president, Kalu appears to be attempting to recalibrate political calculations among South‑East voters, many of whom have historically voted for opposition parties or maintained a cautious distance from the ruling party.
Supporters of Kalu’s position argue that engagement with the centre has the potential to unlock far‑reaching benefits for the South‑East, including increased federal appointments, project implementations and infrastructural investments. They contend that strategic alliances can create leverage that positions the zone more favourably when critical negotiations occur at the national level.
Critics, however, are cautious. Some South‑East voices contend that unconditional endorsement of President Tinubu’s re‑election bid could sideline the long‑standing push for a rotational presidency or clearer arrangements that guarantee Igbo ascendancy or parity in national leadership structures. These dissenting perspectives highlight the tension between short‑term political expediency and the pursuit of structural guarantees for fair representation.
Within Abia itself, reactions to Kalu’s message have been mixed. While some party loyalists celebrated the clarity of his strategic vision and rallied behind his call for unity, others voiced concerns about whether the broader electorate would embrace his position given the historical context of Nigerian politics and the South‑East’s complex relationship with ruling parties.
Despite the differing opinions, there is broad recognition that the conversation initiated by Kalu has reignited important discussions about political agency, influence and the mechanisms through which Nigeria’s diverse communities seek inclusion in the corridors of power. As the 2027 general election cycle gains momentum, such debates are expected to intensify, with parties and stakeholders across the spectrum refining their strategies to appeal to critical voting blocs.
As part of his closing remarks during the tour, Kalu reiterated his belief that a proactive, rather than reactive, political posture is essential for the Igbo to achieve meaningful progress. He stressed that the choice of political allies and the strategic use of electoral strength are pivotal in determining the outcomes of negotiations that shape national policy and development priorities.
For now, his appeal for support of President Tinubu’s bid in 2027 stands as a defining moment in the unfolding political narrative of the South‑East — one that could influence both party politics and the broader discourse on representation, equity and national unity in Nigeria.
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