Kalu Recounts 2016 Mockery for Joining APC, Says South-East Political Landscape Has Transformed
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has revisited his early days in the All Progressives Congress (APC), reflecting on the ridicule he faced in 2016 when he joined the then-opposition party in the South-East — a region that, at the time, had no APC governor, senator, or federal lawmaker.
Speaking on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout anchored by Babajide Otitoju on Monday, the former Abia State governor recounted how his political decision was met with laughter, insults, and disbelief among his contemporaries.
“When I joined the APC in 2016, I was the only South-East leader in the party. People mocked me, called me names, and thought I was mad to have joined a party that had no governor or lawmaker from our region,” Kalu said.
“But I stood my ground and kept assuring the party leadership that it would be well. In 2019, I became the first senator elected on the APC platform from the South-East, and today, the story has changed — we now have APC governors, senators, and House members across the zone.”
From Ridicule to Regional Presence
Kalu’s reflection highlights the political evolution of the APC in the South-East, a region that has historically leaned towards the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and, more recently, the Labour Party (LP).
When Kalu defected to the APC in 2016, the party had little to no presence in the region, with most political stakeholders dismissing it as a Northern or Western political movement. His decision, therefore, was seen as both bold and politically risky.
Today, however, the political narrative has shifted. The APC now boasts governors in Imo and Ebonyi States, alongside several lawmakers representing the South-East at both state and federal levels.
Akahi News gathered that this growing acceptance has been largely driven by strategic political alliances, developmental promises, and the party’s efforts to deepen its grassroots structures across the region.
Kalu’s Consistency and Political Resilience
Despite his legal battles and political setbacks, Senator Kalu has remained one of the most consistent voices advocating for South-East inclusion in Nigeria’s mainstream political structure.
Political observers believe that his steadfastness has paid off, positioning him as one of the key figures shaping the emerging APC narrative in the region. His journey, from being labelled “politically naive” for joining the APC, to becoming Chairman of the South-East Development Commission, underscores what many describe as his resilient leadership style.
According to Akahi News analysis, Kalu’s experience mirrors a broader theme in Nigerian politics — where political foresight often meets initial rejection but eventually shapes future realities.
The New Political Map of the South-East
As of 2025, the South-East’s political map is increasingly multi-party, with the APC, PDP, and Labour Party all maintaining significant footholds. While the Labour Party gained massive youth support during the 2023 general elections, analysts note that the APC’s strategic inroads, especially through appointments and infrastructural projects, have strengthened its legitimacy.
Kalu’s narrative may thus serve as a reminder of the slow but steady political reconfiguration taking place in the region. His early gamble on the APC, once seen as misplaced, now appears to have contributed to a wider rebalancing of power across the South-East.
As the APC continues to consolidate its influence, political experts predict that figures like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will remain instrumental in bridging the regional-political gap between the South-East and the central government.
His reflections, therefore, go beyond personal vindication — they represent a symbolic story of political persistence, strategic alignment, and the changing face of South-East politics in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
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