Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Ifeanyi Uchendu, and Abia-based public commentator, Ola Kalu, have endorsed the re-election bid of the incumbent senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu.
The duo cited the former Abia State governor’s experience in governance, legislative performance, infrastructure interventions and human capital development as reasons for supporting his return to the Senate.
Uchendu, who spoke with The Sun following a meeting with Senator Kalu in London on Sunday, described the senator as an experienced politician with considerable knowledge of governance and leadership.
He urged Nigerians to approach the 2027 elections by assessing candidates based on their records, competence, character, experience and achievements rather than political rhetoric, personal ambition or desperation.
“Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting with His Excellency, the former Governor of Abia State, and the Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in London. It was a memorable and inspiring meeting with a man whose years of experience in public service have given him a deep understanding of governance and leadership,” Uchendu said.
He maintained that Kalu’s years in public service had equipped him with valuable insight into the challenges facing constituents and the country.
“As the 2027 election approaches, this is a time for Nigerians to look beyond noise, personal ambition, and political desperation. We should carefully examine the records, experience, competence, character, and achievements of every candidate before making our decisions,” he added.
Uchendu further urged voters to base their choices on verifiable performance and genuine commitment to public service.
“Elections should be about ideas, development, accountability, and our future. Leadership is a serious responsibility, and the people deserve leaders who understand the job and are prepared to serve,” he said.
Also speaking on a radio programme in Abia State on Monday, Ola Kalu described Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as an effective legislator whose interventions, according to him, had contributed to development across Abia North.
He argued that legislative representation should extend beyond lawmaking and oversight to attracting development projects and ensuring that constituents benefit from democratic governance.
“Distinguished Senator Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has, through the instrumentality of legislative bargain, attracted sustainable infrastructural development in Abia North Senatorial District,” he said.
Ola Kalu cited several projects he attributed to the senator, including the construction of a one-kilometre road in Ndi Orieke and a two-kilometre road linking the Army checkpoint at Isiugwu Junction to Isugwu Village.
He also listed the rehabilitation of classroom blocks in Okagwe, Elu, Ebem and Akanu communities in Ohafia Local Government Area, alongside classroom renovation and borehole projects across Bende, Isuikwuato and Arochukwu Local Government Areas.
On education and human capital development, he said the senator had provided scholarship support for 150 students studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.
“Segmentally, all the 67 communities in Abia North have received one public dividend through the kind gesture of Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu,” he claimed.
The commentator also praised Kalu’s youth-focused empowerment initiatives, saying the senator had pursued opportunities aimed at encouraging, employing and empowering constituents, including facilitating the placement of youths in federal establishments.
According to his supporters, Kalu’s constituency interventions have extended beyond physical infrastructure to education, skills acquisition, employment opportunities and international exposure for young people.
They cited vocational and livelihood equipment distributed to constituents, sponsorship of young people for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes abroad, as well as support for participation in international conferences and other capacity-building programmes.
Kalu’s reported constituency-development activities have also attracted recognition from professional bodies. He has twice been recognised by the Senate Press Corps as the Best Senator in Constituency Development, while the Nigerian Union of Journalists has also honoured him for his contributions to constituency development.
Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State and incumbent senator representing Abia North, is seeking another term in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
