Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has stated that forging a strong political alliance between Nigeria's Southeast and Southwest geopolitical zones represents the most direct and viable pathway to electing a president of Igbo extraction.
A Call for Strategic Political Investment
Kalu made this declaration during a series of high-level consultations across the three senatorial zones of Abia State—Abia North, Central, and South. The meetings, held with elder statesmen and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), focused on party unity, electoral strategy, and the future of the Southeast in national politics.
He strongly advised Igbo leaders and voters to move beyond politics driven by sentiment and instead embrace calculated political investments. Kalu emphasized that votes are a form of political currency that must be strategically deployed to gain power, influence, and a strong negotiating position.
"What you play politics with is numbers, not sentiments. Votes are currency. If you invest them where they don’t count toward success, you have wasted your opportunity at the negotiation table," Kalu asserted.
Consolidating Southern Unity for 2027
The Deputy Speaker argued that sustained support for the Southwest, particularly under the current leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would build trust, foster inclusion, and encourage reciprocity. This, he believes, would ultimately position the Southeast favorably for the presidency in a future election cycle.
He issued a warning against any actions that could fracture southern solidarity, stating that such a move would politically weaken the Southeast. "The South must stay united. Any attempt to break that unity through sentiment will weaken the Southeast politically and take us backwards," Kalu cautioned.
As part of his efforts to strengthen the APC in Abia, Kalu visited key party figures including former Senate Chief Whip and former Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in Abia North; Senator John Bob Nwannunu in Abia Central; and former Hallmark Bank CEO, Sir Mac Wabara, in Abia South. The discussions centered on party cohesion and the need for collaboration to stabilize the polity.
Tinubu's Leadership and the Road Ahead
Kalu praised President Tinubu's administration, describing his policies as tough but necessary and courageous, claiming they are already yielding positive results. He highlighted the President's political will and inclusiveness, particularly towards the Southeast.
"He has proven that there is no discrimination in project allocation or governance. He is a listening president, and the political will is there," Kalu stated.
During the visits, Kalu also presented his two-year performance scorecard for assessment, inviting honest feedback to improve. He expressed strong confidence in the APC's growing structure in Abia State, declaring that the era of settling for 25% of the vote is over. He believes the party now has the momentum to deliver a decisive victory for President Tinubu in the state during the next election.
In their responses, the elder statesmen commended Kalu's impactful and people-oriented leadership at the National Assembly. They pledged continued support and collective action to strengthen the APC and mobilize grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
