By Kelechi Opara, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Abia State, Sen. Orji Uzor-Kalu, has advised the National Chairman of the party Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to be careful with governors from the opposition parties promising to deliver 25% votes for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Kalu made the appeal on Tuesday during the official screening of the aspirants for this weekend’s national convention of the party.
The Senator who represents the Abia North Senatorial District, moved the motion for Yilwatda to take a bow and go, however charged him to consider members of the party ahead of those he referred to as “the friends” of the party.
“The party needed a level headed National Chairman, the party needs a builder like you which I have seen since you assumed office and how you have solved the problems in the states.
“One appeal I want to make to you is don’t be carried away by the governors of the states under the opposition parties promising to give Mr President 25% during next year’s presidential election. We need the 100% vote delivery.
“It’s either that you are a member of our party or you are not. We are not going to listen to anybody telling you that he is a friend to Mr President. If anybody is on ground and loves Mr. President, he should join this party,” Kalu stated.
While defending his motion for the National Chairman to bow and go, the former governor said: “You have a repository of knowledge in conducting elections having contested as governorship candidate, been an Electoral Commissioner and an erudite Professor. I am also impressed with your humility. You are a very disciplined man. I just want to commend and urge you to keep flying the flag of our party until we conquer.
“I heard some people complaining that the country is sliding into a one party state, and if anybody wants to claim that we will tell them that we didn’t force anybody to join the APC.
“They are doing that out of their own volition and we cannot stop anybody because the door of the party is wide open for anybody desiring to join to do so. I want you to work very hard to get more people into the party because human beings are the raw material of politics,” he said.
