Residents of Acha community in Isikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State have declared support for the re-election of the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They made their position known when Kalu visited Acha Ward 16 as part of his ongoing ward-to-ward tour of Isikwuato, which also took him to Ezera Ward 2, where he interacted with residents and presented his stewardship.
Speaking during the Acha visit, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and OUK Movement in the ward, Hon. Priscilla Ezekwe, said the community’s support for Kalu was based on what she described as his record in education, infrastructure and human capital development.
According to her, residents of Acha still remember the free education programme implemented during Kalu’s tenure as governor of Abia State and were pleased that education had remained a major part of his interventions as senator.
“Our people have not forgotten the free education our children enjoyed when Senator Kalu was governor. Today, another generation is benefiting from his investment in education through classroom projects, free school bags, science and STEM textbooks, scholarships and other educational materials,” Ezekwe said.
She said Kalu’s representation had also provided opportunities for young people from Abia North to participate in overseas scholarships and training programmes.
“We have seen what he has done, and we also know there is more work to be done. Our position in Acha is that someone who has remained close to his people and continued to attract projects and opportunities should be encouraged to do more,” she said.
A community leader, Chief John Chukwu, said Kalu’s decision to return to the grassroots and engage directly with residents demonstrated the importance of maintaining contact between elected representatives and their constituents.
“What we appreciate is that he has come back to hear from us. We have our challenges and we have presented them to him. We have also seen some of the things he has done across Abia North,” Chukwu said.
“We want development to continue. That is why our people are supporting him to return to the Senate.”
A youth leader, Prince William Anyim, said young people in the area wanted greater access to education, skills acquisition, business support and employment opportunities.
“The youths want opportunities. We want education, skills, jobs and support for our businesses. We have seen young people from Abia North benefit from scholarships and training programmes, including opportunities outside Nigeria.
“We appreciate those interventions, but we are asking for more because many of our young people still need these opportunities,” Anyim said.
At Ezera Ward 2, Kalu also presented his report card to residents and listened to their demands, assuring them that their concerns would form part of his continuing engagements with relevant government agencies.
The senator said roads, classroom projects, scholarships, empowerment programmes and other interventions attracted to communities were part of the responsibility entrusted to him by the people.
Kalu told residents that his representation would continue to focus on education, infrastructure and human capital development, while pursuing additional federal interventions for communities across Abia North.
Addressing residents at Acha, the former governor recalled his administration’s free education policy, saying his commitment to education had remained unchanged.
He said his current educational interventions included the construction and renovation of classroom blocks, distribution of school bags, science and STEM textbooks and other learning materials, as well as scholarships and overseas training opportunities.
Kalu said more than 50 young people from Abia North had benefited from overseas scholarships and training programmes.
“For me, the principle has never changed: invest in education, invest in our people and invest in the future,” he said.
He thanked residents of Acha and Ezera for their reception and said the confidence shown by constituents placed a greater responsibility on him to deliver more.
Kalu described his relationship with communities across the senatorial district as a “partnership that works”, adding that he would continue to listen to the people and pursue their development needs.
