Senator Uzor Orji Kalu, representing Abia North, has distanced himself from the ongoing discussions among opposition parties aimed at forming a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
During a visit to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Kalu made his stance clear, emphasizing that his interest lies in fostering collaboration between Tinubu and Otti rather than engaging in opposition politics.
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“I’m not into coalition talks… My deal is for Tinubu and Otti to support each other,” the former Abia governor said.
Governor Otti remains the sole governor elected on the Labour Party (LP) platform in the 2023 general elections.
Kalu also addressed his relationship with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he referred to in personal terms.
“El-Rufia is my personal friend and brother, so their condition is what I do not understand. What I understand is that APC is on course, and I have many triggers to pull out,” he stated.
He reiterated that he shares a cordial relationship with Otti, and again underscored that his focus is not on opposition alignments.
“Otti doesn’t have a problem with me. I don’t want to talk of a coalition; I talk about Otti supporting Tinubu and Tinubu supporting Otti. That is my deal,” he said.
El-Rufai, on April 16, announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In his exit remarks, he harshly criticized the Tinubu-led administration, labeling it as the most corrupt and intolerant since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
“This is the worst federal government in Nigerian history, and all the indices have shown it,” el-Rufai said in a statement in Katsina.
