2027: Kalu knocks opposition, says Tinubu, APC not teleguiding INEC

Orji Uzor Kalu the Senator representing Abia North constituency, on Tuesday pushed back strongly against allegations by opposition parties that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are manipulating Nigeria’s electoral process, insisting that such claims are baseless and damaging to the country’s democratic credibility.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja to mark his 66th birthday, Kalu dismissed the narrative that the presidency or the APC is interfering in the affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a distraction from deeper issues within opposition ranks.

“Claims being made by some opposition political parties on alleged interference in the workings of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu or our great party, the All Progressives Congress, are to me, frivolous and harmful to Nigeria’s democratic image,” he said.

The former Abia State governor maintained that the electoral umpire remains independent and should not be dragged into partisan narratives.

“The APC as a party has nothing to do with INEC. INEC is an independent body and we have a lot of respect for the Chairman of INEC.

“He is an erudite Professor of Law… So, let us stop this frivolity. People should take the electoral process and democracy seriously instead of de-marketing the country,” he said.

Kalu also rejected suggestions that the ruling party is orchestrating defections from opposition parties, particularly among governors, arguing that such decisions are driven by political calculations rather than coercion.

“President Tinubu has never pressured anyone to join the APC or begged anybody to leave his or her own party for APC.

“So, if a governor decides to join APC, that is his business. When you come, we negotiate; if it is good, you stay; if not, you go your way. Nobody is forcing anybody,” he stressed.

On permutations ahead of the 2027 elections, including speculations that the Senate Presidency could be zoned to the South East, Kalu distanced himself from any such arrangement, noting that zoning remains the prerogative of party leadership.

However, while leaving the door open, he made it clear that he is not actively lobbying for any position.