By Isaac Mission
A Baptist cleric, Reverend Samson Okoro Elekwa, has appealed to Labour Party senatorial candidate David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex and New Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate Uko Nkole to step aside from the 2027 Abia North senatorial contest and support former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Elekwa said his position was informed by what he described as Kalu’s performance in representing the Abia North Senatorial District, particularly in infrastructure, education and youth development.
Speaking with journalists, the cleric urged voters to judge political office holders by their records and the tangible impact of their projects rather than party affiliation.
He argued that Kalu’s interventions across the district should be considered when determining whether he deserves another term in the Senate.
Elekwa cited road projects in communities including Ndi Orieke in Ohafia Local Government Area and Amannagwu in Arochukwu, describing them as examples of infrastructure he attributed to the senator’s representation.
According to him, such projects have improved access to communities and benefited farmers, traders and transport operators.
The cleric also listed several other communities which he said had benefited from Kalu’s interventions, including Atan Abam, Alayi, Ezeukwu, Ndi Inya Abam, Isu, Umuzomgbo, Itumbauzo, Okoko Item, Nneato, Akanu Ohafia and Abia Ohafia.
Beyond road infrastructure, Elekwa pointed to investments linked to Kalu in the state, including a university project, student hostels and factories.
He argued that such investments could create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity, particularly among young people.
Elekwa also criticised attempts to introduce what he described as sectional considerations into the senatorial contest. He referenced controversies associated with Bourdex’s time as caretaker chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area.
The cleric maintained that the district should focus on consolidating development rather than allowing political rivalry to undermine existing projects and initiatives.
He therefore appealed directly to Bourdex and Nkole to reconsider their ambitions and support Kalu in the forthcoming election.
“My appeal to Bourdex and Nkole is simple: step down and support Orji Uzor Kalu,” Elekwa said, stressing that Abia North should prioritise continuity and development.
He further argued that the South-East needed representatives who could combine legislative influence with grassroots engagement and practical development.
The 2027 senatorial election in Abia North is expected to generate considerable political interest, with candidates from different parties already positioning themselves ahead of the poll.
Elekwa urged residents of the district to independently examine the records and programmes of all the candidates before deciding whom to support.
While expressing his preference for Kalu, he maintained that the former governor’s record, in his assessment, made a strong case for retaining him as the district’s representative in the Senate.
