Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State and current representative of Abia North Senatorial District, has downplayed the political relevance of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, insisting that he remains the most important politician in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday, Kalu stated that he had no interest in discussing Peter Obi, emphasizing his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Let me be honest with you, I’m a member of the APC and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi,” Kalu said. “You can ask me about the leader of my party — whether the question is right or wrong — I will answer you.”
The former governor, however, added that he would be open to a public debate if Obi were physically present. “Any day you want me to discuss Peter Obi, give us two hours, put him there and put me here, and we will be able to sort it out,” he stated.
Reacting to claims that Obi is the political leader of the South-East, Kalu dismissed the notion, asserting that his track record and experience place him above Obi in regional influence.
“He (Obi) is not my leader; I am the most important politician from that zone,” Kalu declared. “I have won two states before under PPA. I ran for president before — my 4.9 million votes in 2007 are still there. We achieved a lot with PPA — we had ministers, ambassadors, and other appointments under President Yar’Adua.”
Kalu reaffirmed that his political achievements and long-standing influence make him a central figure in the South-East, not Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election.
