“I Was Mocked When I Joined APC In 2016, Now We Have Governors, Lawmakers” – Senator Kalu

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has reflected on his political journey within the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalling how he was ridiculed in 2016 for joining the then-opposition party in the South-East, which had no single governor or lawmaker from the region.

Speaking on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout anchored by Babajide Otitoju on Monday, the Senator representing Abia North, Dr Kalu said he was the only political leader from the South-East who joined the APC at the time but remained consistent despite criticism and mockery.

“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.

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“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.”