Which politician is more popular in the Southeast? Orji Kalu compares himself to Peter Obi

Former Abia State Governor and 9th Chairman of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has rejected claims that Labor Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is the political leader of the South East, and instead stated that he remains the most important political figure in the region.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s political programme, Politics Today, on Wednesday evening, Kalu – who currently represents Abia North Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC) – said he was not interested in discussing Obi, and insisted that his loyalty lay only with his party.

“To be honest, I am a member of the APC and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi, I told you so before,” Kalu said.

“I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi for any reason. You can ask me about my party leader, I will answer you, whether the question is right or wrong, I will answer you,” he added.

But the senator said he was willing to engage Obi in a public debate if the opportunity arose.

“Whenever you want me to discuss Peter Obi, give us two hours, put him there and put me here, and we will be able to get it done,” he said.

When asked about the perception that Obi has become the face of politics in the South East region after the 2023 general elections, Kalu categorically rejected the notion, insisting that his political pedigree and past achievements speak for themselves.

“He (Obi) is not my leader; I am the most important politician in the zone,” Kalu said.

Backing his claim with past political exploits, Kalu recalled his performance as the presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in 2007, when he polled millions of votes across the country and managed to build a strong regional base.

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“I have won two states previously under the PPA. I once ran for president; my 4.9 million votes in 2007 are still there. We achieved a lot with the PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors and other appointments under President Yar’Adua,” he said.

Kalu, who ruled Abia State from 1999 to 2007, argued that his long-standing influence and contribution to national politics made him a central figure in the South East political landscape, well ahead of the new political wave represented by Peter Obi.

Political observers note that Kalu’s comments come amid the ongoing debate over who currently holds the reins of political loyalties in the Southeast, especially after Obi’s impressive performance in the 2023 presidential elections, where he won several states in the region and beyond.

However, Kalu’s firm stance signals increasing competition among the region’s political elite as the countdown to the 2027 elections begins.