Politics
Orji Kalu’s Performance His Best Selling Point, Others Should Withdraw – Abia Cleric
An Abia-born cleric, Rev. Okoro Elekwa of the Baptist Church, has said the performance of the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, remains his strongest selling point ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Elekwa, who spoke while commenting on Kalu’s ongoing ward-to-ward tour of communities in Abia North, said the large turnout being recorded during the visits demonstrated, in his view, the senator’s grassroots appeal.
He called on other aspirants seeking the Abia North Senatorial seat to withdraw from the race and openly support Kalu’s return to the Senate, arguing that his continued representation would benefit not only Abia North but Abia State and the South East.
According to the cleric, Kalu has built his support around what he described as visible interventions in roads, education, scholarships, youth development, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s performance is his best selling point. You can see the massive turnout wherever he goes. The people are not coming out for nothing. They are coming out because they have seen what he has done and they appreciate his representation,” Elekwa said.
He said Kalu’s educational interventions, including the construction and renovation of classroom blocks, provision of school bags, desks, science and STEM textbooks and other educational materials, had touched families across communities in Abia North.
Elekwa also cited scholarships and overseas training opportunities provided to young people from the senatorial district, saying such programmes had given beneficiaries exposure and skills that could improve their future prospects.
He further pointed to road projects and other constituency interventions across the five local government areas of Abia North, saying communities that had benefited from the projects had reasons to assess the senator on his record.
“Look at the schools, roads, scholarships, educational materials, empowerment programmes and training opportunities. These are things the people can see and feel.
“He has also given young people opportunities to acquire skills and participate in training programmes outside the country. When a representative is doing these things, his performance becomes his campaign,” he said.
The cleric also recalled Kalu’s tenure as governor of Abia State, saying his free education policy at the time remained memorable to many families in the state.
He said Kalu’s continued emphasis on education as senator demonstrated what he described as consistency in his approach to human capital development.
Elekwa said the senator’s legislative responsibilities and constituency interventions should also be considered in assessing his representation.
“For me, this should no longer be about personal ambition. I am calling on the other aspirants to withdraw and openly endorse Senator Kalu’s return to the Senate.
“Abia North, Abia State and the South East need experienced voices at the national level. We should look beyond individual political interests and consider what will bring greater benefit to our people,” he said.
Elekwa urged political leaders and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully ahead of the elections and allow development and performance to dominate political discussions.
Kalu has been touring wards and communities in Isikwuato Local Government Area, presenting his stewardship to constituents and listening to their demands.
His recent stops have included Acha Ward 16, Ezera Ward 2 and Umuasua Ward 13, where residents raised community needs and discussed ongoing and proposed interventions with the senator.