Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar
Former Governor of Abia State and current senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that no opposition figure—including seasoned contenders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, or former President Goodluck Jonathan—stands a chance against the incumbent in the 2027 general elections.
Kalu made the bold assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he praised Tinubu’s handling of national issues, particularly in the area of economic recovery.
“Atiku, Obi, and even Jonathan cannot defeat Tinubu in 2027.
The President has done well—he’s stabilising the economy and making tough decisions others shied away from,” Kalu said confidently.
President Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023 after a tightly contested election, has faced intense scrutiny over his economic reforms, including the controversial fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.
While these moves sparked hardship for many Nigerians, the administration has continued to defend them as necessary for long-term economic stability.
Despite growing criticism from opposition leaders, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 polls, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who has contested the presidency multiple times, Kalu believes Tinubu remains the strongest political force heading into the next electoral cycle.
“A word of caution for Jonathan*
Kalu didn’t stop at backing Tinubu—he also addressed the speculated return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the political scene.
“Jonathan should not even consider running.
“He is constitutionally barred from contesting again,” Kalu asserted, referencing legal interpretations of constitutional amendments following Jonathan’s previous tenure.
Jonathan, who lost to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, handed over peacefully and has since focused on diplomatic engagements and regional peace-building.
However, his name has occasionally surfaced in political circles as a potential “consensus candidate” for 2027—a notion Kalu firmly rejects on legal grounds.
*Early campaign winds blowing*
Although the next presidential election is still over two years away, political realignments and power calculations are already taking shape. With Tinubu’s camp signaling readiness for a second term and opposition parties yet to agree on a unified strategy, the race for 2027 is gradually shifting into motion.
For Kalu, the message is clear: “None of the usual challengers has what it takes to unseat Tinubu. Nigerians are beginning to see the results of his leadership,” he said.
