Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has firmly rejected calls from the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to contest the 2027 presidential election, reaffirming his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The NYLF, a coalition of 40 groups, recently urged Kalu to run for president after meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta. The group also listed Labour Party’s Peter Obi as a preferred contender and suggested Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Umar Fintiri (Adamawa) as potential running mates.
However, Kalu, in a statement issued by his media office on Thursday, distanced himself from any presidential ambition, stating that his focus remains on supporting Tinubu’s administration and its ongoing economic reforms.
He dismissed speculations of division within the APC over the 2027 elections, urging the opposition to stop using his name for political distractions.
Kalu emphasized that Tinubu deserves a full eight-year tenure to consolidate his economic policies, describing him as the most courageous reformist Nigeria has had since the return to democracy.
“I have stood with Tinubu since our days as governors in 1999, and I remain committed to his vision for Nigeria,” Kalu reiterated.
