Kalu: I stepped down voluntarily, not because I feared Orji Kalu.

Kalu: I stepped down voluntarily, not because I feared Orji Kalu.

Former Abia North Senatorial aspirant and Founder of ECK Foundation, Chief Dr. Emeka Charles Kalu, has dismissed claims that he was persuaded or pressured to withdraw his senatorial ambition in favour of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

Kalu, in a statement, reacted to a claim attributed to the Deputy Speaker that he and Ikwuishi approached him and asked him to step down for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, saying the assertion did not reflect what transpired.

He said his decision to withdraw from the race was made personally and voluntarily after considering the interest of the Labour Party and the people of Abia North.

According to him, nobody compelled, negotiated with, intimidated or persuaded him to abandon his ambition.

“I took the decision to step down personally, voluntarily, and in the interest of peace and unity within the Labour Party. Nobody compelled me, negotiated with me, intimidated me, or persuaded me to abandon my ambition,” Kalu said.

He explained that his main objective was to prevent an internal contest from creating divisions within the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Kalu, however, stressed that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as an admission that he lacked the capacity to defeat Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at the polls.

“I respect Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, but I am equally confident in my political strength, grassroots support, experience, and capacity to compete and win,” he stated.

He said he chose peace and party unity over personal ambition, rather than withdrawing because he was afraid of the contest.

“There is a fundamental difference between voluntarily withdrawing for the sake of unity and being forced to withdraw because one lacks the capacity to win. My decision was entirely mine, and I take full responsibility for it,” he added.

Kalu further maintained that his decision had helped strengthen unity within the Labour Party in Abia North and across Abia State, saying the development demonstrated that the party could place collective interests above individual ambitions.

He said Labour Party aspirants and stakeholders remained united under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, with a determination to consolidate what he described as the gains of good governance and development in the state.

Looking ahead to 2027, Kalu said the Labour Party would approach the election as a united and formidable political family, promising to work towards defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia North and strengthening Labour’s position across the state.

He also urged party members and the public to disregard what he described as attempts to rewrite the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal.

“My political decisions are mine to make, and I will always make them based on what I believe is best for our people and our party,” he said.

Kalu said he had no regrets about choosing peace, noting that leadership sometimes requires individuals to make personal sacrifices for the greater good.

“Let the records be clear: I stepped down by my own decision, for the sake of Labour Party unity and a rancour-free political process. I was not pushed out. I was not intimidated. I was not bought over. And I was certainly not convinced that I could not win,” he stated.

He described his decision as an act of “maturity, sacrifice, courage, and political responsibility—not weakness.”

Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, saying the party in Abia North and Abia State was stronger, united and prepared for the 2027 elections.