Senator Orji Uzor Kalu ( APC Abia North), declared on Monday in Abuja that his public support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is not driven by personal ambition or political sycophancy.
He made this known while featuring in a live current affairs programme on Channels Television hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
Kalu stirred public conversation last week when he appeared at the Senate plenary in an outfit bearing the inscription “Tinubu for President 2027.” Addressing the backlash, he said there was nothing unusual about his attire.
“Who else would have made that dress other than Aba tailors? It was made in Aba, dyed in Aba and delivered in Aba. It is only Aba people who are hardworking that can do it,” he said. “It’s very fashionable and I will wear it again.”
Responding to accusations that his outfit was a form of sycophancy, Kalu replied, “Can a man like me be sycophantic? I am not running for anything. Where am I running to? I’m only running to return to the Senate.
It’s not political sycophancy. I am a man that can’t be sycophantic. It is a uniform for 2027.”
When reminded by the anchor that he wore the outfit in 2025, Kalu replied, “Sure, my house manager just made it available that morning and I wore it. I don’t see anything wrong in wearing it. It’s you press people that saw something wrong. INEC has lifted the ban on campaign, but we are preparing.”
Asked whether he is now the unofficial campaign manager of President Tinubu, Kalu said: “What is wrong with that? I will be very happy to accept it and do the job for him. I don’t have anything to regret in doing the job.”
On the issue of a Southern candidate seeking re-election, he emphasized national unity over regional identity: “President Tinubu is not the President of the South but the candidate of Nigeria, and I am a Nigerian.
“I have always said this every Nigerian should stop addressing himself or herself by region. I have asked for legislation where I suggested we remove all local government and state information on forms; people should only fill that they are Nigerians, He said.
When asked whether it is insensitive for politicians to already be speaking about 2027, especially after he publicly endorsed Tinubu, the senator defended his party’s political activity.
“We are a political party and there must be activities of a political party. We had a midterm assessment of our party where the whole party stakeholders gathered.
“I was in the Senate to do my legislative job, and the journalists ran over me. It’s my dress and I have the right to wear anything I like.
“There is freedom of association and freedom of speech. I also have the right to say what I want to say.”