Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, has stated that Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is not his political leader. He insisted that he remains the most significant political figure from Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, made it clear that he had no interest in discussing Obi or his political relevance.
“Let me be honest with you, I’m a member of the APC, and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi. I’ve said this before,” Kalu stated. “You can ask me about my party’s leader; I’ll gladly respond, but I have nothing to say about Obi.”
The senator added that while he avoids discussing Obi publicly, he would be open to a face-to-face debate if both of them were present.
“Any day you want me to talk about Peter Obi, put us together for two hours — I’ll be ready to engage him directly,” he said.
Reacting to claims that Obi is the political leader of the South-East, Kalu dismissed the idea, asserting his dominance in the region’s political landscape.
“He is not my leader. I am the most important politician from that zone,” he declared.
Backing his claim, the former governor highlighted his political achievements, noting that his influence long predates Obi’s rise.
“I have governed two states under the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). I contested for president in 2007 and got 4.9 million votes — those votes still count. Under PPA, we had ministers, ambassadors, and top appointments during President Yar’Adua’s administration,” he explained.
Kalu reaffirmed that his political experience, leadership record, and contributions to governance make him a more prominent figure in the South-East than Peter Obi, who led the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.
