Senate Committee Chairman on South East Development Commission (SEDC)/ Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has rejected the call by Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to run for president in 2027, with either Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal or Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri as running mate.

The prominent coalition comprising 40 groups made the request yesterday after a courtesy call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

President of the group, Comrade Eliot Afiyo, who named the former president as the patron of NYLF listed the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as their preferred presidential candidates, while naming the duo of Governors of Adamawa and Zamfara states as preferred running mates.

Rejecting the call, Kalu, in a statement issued from his media office, yesterday, and signed by George Maduka, dissociated himself from any presidential ambition, revealing that he has made his stance on 2027 known and warned against distractions from the opposition.

Kalu said there is no disagreement in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) about their candidate for 2027, adding that the President needs encouragement on the ongoing economic reforms. He called on the opposition to concentrate on their political needs and desist from dragging him into their battles.

The statement partly read: “Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal and presidential republic and a representative democracy, in which the citizens have rights to vote and be voted for. Senator Kalu has right to decide on what he should be voted for, and presidency in 2027 is definitely out of it.

He has publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election and he is committed to the required work needed. “Kalu is a strong believer of Tinubu’s economic reform.

He knows that to sustain the reforms, there must be focus on long-term stability, inclusivity and adaptability as the President needs the maximum eight years to achieve it.

“ The former governor has utmost respect for the President and their friendship spans across decades, long before they became governors in 1999.

Kalu is known for standing firm in what he believes in, and he has taken his stand on Tinubu and will continue to encourage him on his bold progressive economic reforms. “Kalu believes the prosperity of Nigeria will be endless with a successful reform.