Kalu Takes Tinubu’s Unity Message to Abia, Urges Igbo to ‘Invest Votes’ Ahead of 2027

Says backing South West is shortest route to Igbo presidency

By Onwe wisdom | Pan Afric Reporters, Abuja

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has carried President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of unity, reconciliation and party cohesion to key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Abia State, urging the Igbo to be strategic by “investing their votes” in future elections.

Kalu according to a press statement issued on January 5, 2026, by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs Udora Orizu, made the call during a series of courtesy visits to party leaders and elder statesmen across the three senatorial zones of Abia State—Abia North, Central and South as part of efforts to strengthen party structures and align stakeholders with the broader vision of national unity and political stability.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the President’s directive to party leaders is clear: intensify engagement, promote unity and foster reconciliation across the country. “Leaders at all levels must reach out to one another, put aside divisive tendencies, and work collectively to build a stronger, more cohesive party and nation,” Kalu said.

In Abia North, Kalu visited former Senate Chief Whip and ex-Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. He also met with Senator John Bob Nwannunu in Abia Central and paid a courtesy visit to Sir Mac Wabara, former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Hallmark Bank and a prominent APC chieftain, in Abia South. Across all meetings, discussions centred on party unity, internal strengthening and sustained collaboration among stakeholders.

Speaking on the national political landscape, Kalu urged the Igbo to adopt a pragmatic approach to politics, stressing that votes should be seen as political capital. He argued that supporting the South West at this time represents the shortest route to the eventual emergence of an Igbo president, as it would build trust, inclusion and reciprocity within Nigeria’s political system.

“Igbo’s, let us invest our votes. Igbo’s, let us not waste our votes. The time of wasting our votes just to prove a sentimental point is gone,” Kalu said. “What you play politics with is numbers, not sentiments.”

He likened voting to economic investment, noting that dividends only come when there is prior commitment. “If you carry your vote and dump it where it does not count toward success, you have wasted your opportunity to go to the negotiation table and ask for what you have invested in,” he said, adding that “the vote we have in our hands is the currency for investments.”

Kalu expressed strong support for President Tinubu, praising his leadership and policy direction. “The policies were tough, but the President was steadfast and courageous. He stood by them, and today we have started benefiting from those policies,” he said, insisting that Tinubu has demonstrated fairness toward the South East. “He has proven that he wants to work with the Igbo’s. There is no discrimination in the allocation of projects.”

The Deputy Speaker also presented his two-year legislative scorecard to the elder statesmen and party leaders, openly inviting them to assess his performance. “I believe leadership must be subjected to scrutiny. I presented my two-year scorecard and asked them to honestly assess what I have done so far, so I can do better,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Kalu charged APC stakeholders in Abia to intensify grassroots mobilization, declaring that the era of merely negotiating for 25 percent of votes in the state is over. He said the party now has the structure, momentum and political capital to deliver outright victory.

“With growing grassroots support and renewed unity among stakeholders, Abia APC is fully positioned to win the state convincingly for President Bola Tinubu in future elections,” he stated.

In their separate remarks, the elder statesmen commended Kalu’s performance at the National Assembly, describing his contributions as impactful and people-oriented. They praised his decision to present his scorecard for open critique, describing it as a mark of transparency and humility, and pledged their support to strengthen party structures and mobilize voters ahead of 2027.