Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), has rejected calls by the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to run for president in 2027.

The NYLF, a coalition of 40 groups, had urged Kalu, a two-term former governor of Abia state, to consider Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara or Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa as his running mate. The group reportedly made the request on Wednesday after a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

NYLF President Comrade Eliot Afiyo named Kalu and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as their preferred candidates for 2027.

However, Kalu, in a statement issued through his media office on Thursday, dismissed the call, stating he has no interest in the race.

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“Senator Kalu has made his stance on 2027 clear and warns against distractions from the opposition,” the statement, signed by George Maduka, read.

“Kalu is a strong believer in President Tinubu’s economic reforms. He knows that sustaining these reforms requires long-term stability, inclusivity, and adaptability. The President needs the maximum eight years to achieve this,” the statement added.