Kalu, who turned 55 on May 5, 2026, performed the symbolic endorsement on Tuesday. He was joined by James Faleke, the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.
In a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, the lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State said the occasion gave him a rare chance to endorse the President's nomination form. He added that he and other leaders remain committed to supporting the President's "Renewed Hope Agenda" and working toward reforms that improve the lives of Nigerians.
Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups, had collected the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on the President's behalf. He picked them up at the party's national secretariat in Abuja on April 28, 2026, after the APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, declared the process open.
The APC has set the combined cost of the presidential expression of interest and nomination forms at N100 million. The expression of interest form alone costs N30 million, while the nomination form costs N70 million.
Kalu's endorsement follows a similar move by the Minister of Works, David Umahi. On May 5, Umahi signed the same nomination form and described it as a "victory form," saying it represented a collective commitment to continuity and the gains recorded under the current administration.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on Saturday, February 6, 2027. INEC revised the timetable in February 2026 following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which altered key statutory timelines.
In February 2026, APC stakeholders in Abia State adopted Tinubu as the party's sole presidential candidate for 2027. At the same meeting, held at Kalu's country home in Bende, the stakeholders unanimously affirmed Kalu as the party's recognised leader in the state. The communiqué from that meeting described Tinubu's policies as "bold, transformative and necessary for long-term national stability".
Kalu has also been urged by APC stakeholders in Abia to contest the 2027 governorship election. A coalition of political figures purchased nomination forms for him earlier this month. Kalu has said he will consult widely before making a decision on the governorship bid.
The APC released its official timetable for the 2027 elections in April 2026. Party primaries, including dispute resolution, are scheduled to run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates must be submitted between June 27 and July 11, 2026.
President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 and is seeking re-election amid economic challenges and security concerns across the country.