A member of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) representing the South East, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, has waved off threats by the Labour Party (LP) to unseat Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in the 2027 Abia North senatorial election, declaring that no opposition figure currently has the capacity to defeat the former Abia State governor.
Chukwu, a former Minority Chief Whip of the Abia State House of Assembly, made the assertion on Wednesday while featuring on The Agenda, a political affairs programme aired on Don 103.7 FM, Umuahia, and monitored by MUK TV.
Reacting to recent claims by the Labour Party that it has formidable aspirants ready to challenge Senator Kalu, Chukwu described the boast as mere political talk disconnected from realities on the ground in Abia North.
His comments followed an ongoing media exchange between the camps of Senator Kalu and Governor Alex Otti. In a statement that sparked public debate, the governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, had claimed that the LP had lined up four strong aspirants capable of defeating the incumbent senator in the next election.
However, Chukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissed the claim outright, insisting that even a combined effort by all the LP aspirants would not be enough to dislodge Senator Kalu.
“I have not seen any vibrant opposition in Abia North that can dislodge Orji Uzor Kalu from the Senate,” he said. “Every aspirant the Labour Party has lined up against him, even if they are put together, cannot defeat him”.
The NWDC board member further cautioned politicians nursing senatorial ambitions against Senator Kalu, specifically referencing the reported interest of Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Abia State.
“You don’t go to a lion’s fight with a sheep,” Chukwu warned. “He should shelve the idea because he will not defeat Orji Uzor Kalu”.
Although he acknowledged having political disagreements with the senator in the past, Chukwu said his position was anchored on what he described as Kalu’s political strength, reach, and legislative performance.
According to him, effective representation in the National Assembly goes beyond popularity and requires lawmakers with strong national networks capable of negotiating and attracting federal projects and interventions to their constituencies.
Chukwu also dismissed speculations surrounding the senatorial ambition of Chief David Ogba Onuoha, popularly known as Bourdex, arguing that Abia North does not require what he termed a “boxer” in the Senate.
The remark referenced a past incident in which the former Ohafia Local Government chairman was alleged to have assaulted a council staff member.
Maintaining that Senator Kalu remains politically dominant in Abia North, Chukwu concluded that the opposition lacks the structure, influence, and appeal to pose any serious threat to the senator’s re-election bid in 2027.
