Former Abia State Governor and current Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has stirred controversy after declaring himself the most important politician in the South-East, openly challenging Labour Party’s Peter Obi to a public debate.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Kalu boldly asserted that his political achievements far outweigh Obi’s, citing his long-standing record in governance and national politics.
“Peter is not my leader. I’m the most important politician from that zone. I have won two states before under the PPA.
I have run for president before. My 4.9 million votes are still there since 2007,” Kalu stated confidently.
The senator stressed that his political influence stretches beyond Abia State, recalling his impact during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“I achieved a lot with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and several appointments under President Yar’Adua,” he added.
However, what caught public attention most was Kalu’s daring call for a live debate with Peter Obi.
“Arrange in your studio a meeting between me and Peter Obi. Put two of us in the same place,” he said, challenging Obi to face him directly.
In addition to his remarks on Obi, Kalu made another bold statement that has sparked reactions online.
He pledged to “live and campaign day and night” for President Bola Tinubu to secure victory in Abia State during the 2027 general elections.
Kalu said his confidence stems from the increasing support he has seen among Abia residents.
“In 2027, I will live in Abia for five months, campaign day and night to ensure President Tinubu wins in Abia State,” he declared.
When asked about Tinubu’s poor performance in the 2023 presidential election across the South-East, Kalu dismissed the figures as irrelevant.
He admitted that he only campaigned for three weeks last time but vowed to go all in next time.
His comments quickly spread across social media, with many users on X (formerly Twitter) criticising his claims.
One user, Sacred, wrote: “Shame no catch u say u no even Dey live there … if Abia people have sense they should come together and make sure this man don’t even spend up to 1hr there.”
Another user, El Principe, questioned Kalu’s sincerity, saying, “The conditions you left Abia, were you able to live in it for 5 months? Now you have roads to drive on, and suddenly, you’ll live there to campaign.”
Meanwhile, some political commentators described Kalu’s statement as a deliberate attempt to test the waters ahead of 2027.
Others argued that his public challenge to Peter Obi signals a brewing rivalry that could reshape political alignments in the South-East.
Despite the backlash, Orji Uzor Kalu remains defiant, maintaining that his experience and influence make him a key political figure in the South-East.
