Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Saturday led a massive turnout of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Igbere Ward A, Bende North Local Government Area of Abia State, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured an overwhelming victory in the party’s presidential primary election.
The Abia North senator and former governor of Abia State joined thousands of party faithful who participated in the nationwide direct primary conducted across the APC’s 8,809 wards ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
At the exercise held in Igbere, Kalu arrived in white traditional attire and his trademark red cap to a cheering crowd of supporters, many of whom waved banners bearing President Tinubu’s image while queueing to vote.
Announcing the result of the exercise, the ward Returning Officer, Mr. Ulu Onwuchekwa, declared Tinubu winner after polling 4,986 votes from the ward, which he said has more than 5,000 registered APC members.
Speaking shortly after the primary, Kalu described the turnout as proof of the president’s growing support base within the ruling party.
“You can see the massive turnout of the people to vote for His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this primary. It means the election is almost settled because our party has close to 5,000 registered members in this ward alone.
“This is Igbere A, and there is also Igbere B. You can see the enthusiasm of our people, and we are very satisfied with their response. We will continue to mobilize and work harder ahead of the general election,” Kalu stated.
The APC presidential primary was conducted using the direct primary model approved by the party’s National Working Committee, allowing all registered party members nationwide to participate in the process.
Under the arrangement, results from wards across the country are expected to be collated at local government and state levels before final aggregation in Abuja by the party’s presidential primary committee.
The party had constituted a seven-member Presidential Primary Election Committee headed by former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim. Other members include Ken Nnamani, Victor Udo Udoma, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, Rev. Jolly Nyame and Idris Wada, while Mr. Sanusi Musa serves as secretary.
An appeal committee chaired by former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, was also inaugurated to handle petitions arising from the exercise.
Saturday’s primary comes days after Kalu secured the APC senatorial ticket for Abia North in a landslide victory during the party’s direct primary election conducted across the district’s 57 wards.
The former Senate Chief Whip polled 65,651 votes to defeat his challenger, Philip Nto, who scored 2,103 votes.
