Orji Kalu explains why he can’t back Obi, other Igbo candidates, insists APC remains best party for South-East

​Orji Kalu also described suggestions that he should support an Igbo candidate as an “unreasonable” expectation.

​By Kehinde Okeowo

​The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Kalu, has ruled out supporting the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, or any other Igbo presidential candidate contesting in the 2027 general election.

​He made this known on Monday while appearing as a guest on the Arise Television programme Prime Time.

​According to the former Abia State governor, he remains a loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that he is a committed chieftain of the ruling party.

​While noting that he has no reason to support a candidate contesting under another political party, he dismissed calls for him to support Obi or other political candidates outside the APC.

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​Characterising such expectations as unreasonable, Orji said, “I’m not in the political party where they are contesting. Why should they call my name? I mean, they shouldn’t. Why should they call? No, they are just being idiotic.

​“I was in the PDP, I was in the PPA, and my third political party is the APC. So if I’m in this practice and you want me to go and support somebody in the APGA, you must be sick in your mind. You must be dreaming.”

​He maintained that the APC remained the platform through which he believed the political interests of the South-East could be pursued.

​Orji added, “I am a member of the APC, pure and direct. Yeah, leave me there. I don’t have any interest. If the Igbos have an interest, [and] they don’t want to pursue [it in the] APC, that is their business. There’s no other place the interest will be pursued except where I am.”