Southeast–Southwest Alliance Is Fastest Path to Igbo Presidency – Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said that a strong political partnership between the Southeast and Southwest remains the most viable route for Nigeria to produce an Igbo president.

Kalu stated this during a strategic tour across the three senatorial districts of Abia State, Abia North, Central and South, where he met elder statesmen and key All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders to discuss party unity, electoral strategy and the political future of the Southeast.

He urged the region to move away from emotional politics and embrace pragmatic, interest-driven political engagement, stressing that electoral support must be directed to where it yields tangible political benefit.

“Politics is driven by numbers, not sentiment. Votes are like currency. When you invest them where they do not contribute to success, you lose your bargaining power,” Kalu said.

He noted that continuous political support for the Southwest, especially under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would build trust, deepen inclusion and position the Southeast strongly for future presidential negotiations.

According to him, maintaining southern solidarity remains crucial to preventing power from shifting to regions that may not prioritise Southeast interests.

“The South must remain united. Any attempt to break that unity using sentiment will weaken the Southeast and drag us backwards,” he warned.

Strengthening APC Structures

As part of ongoing efforts to fortify APC in Abia State, Kalu visited former governor and ex-Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; Senator John Bob Nwannunu; and APC chieftain and former Hallmark Bank MD/CEO, Sir Mac Wabara.

Talks centred on peace building within the party, stakeholder harmony and collaboration to stabilize both the APC and the political climate.

He revealed that President Tinubu has tasked APC leaders nationwide to intensify engagement, foster reconciliation and deepen unity, describing the current period as a time for reflection and renewed commitment to inclusive governance.

Kalu commended President Tinubu’s leadership, saying his policies are tough but necessary and already yielding positive outcomes. He added that Tinubu has shown readiness to work with the Southeast without discrimination in governance or project allocation.

Accountability and 2027 Projections

The Deputy Speaker also presented his two-year performance report and invited honest evaluation from stakeholders, stating that leadership must remain open to scrutiny.

Declaring that the APC was now strong enough to win convincingly in Abia State, he said the era of negotiating for just 25 percent of votes in the state was over, expressing confidence that the party has the capacity to deliver a landslide victory for Tinubu in 2027.

Elder statesmen who attended the meetings applauded Kalu’s performance in the National Assembly, describing his leadership as impactful and people-centered. They pledged continued support for the APC and commitment to grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.