Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will unseat the Labour Party-led government in Abia State, headed by Governor Alex Otti, during the 2027 general elections.
While speaking on Sunday at a gathering with his support groups, including the Renewed Hope Initiative, Ben Kalu Movement, and over 27 pro-APC groups under the Ben Kalu Foundation, Kalu vowed that the APC would take over the state through the will of the people.
Kalu stated: “We have come to take over, and there is no going back because we want to work with the President to move our state forward. It’s about our love for the President and ensuring that resources from Abuja reach every ward in Abia.”
He stressed that the APC’s plans would rely on popular support and not federal might, urging party loyalists to obtain their voter and party cards in preparation for the elections.
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a “miracle worker” for abolishing the oil subsidy and redirecting the savings to states.
Kalu criticized Governor Otti’s administration, alleging underperformance despite receiving substantial federal allocations.
“You cannot be getting N38 billion to N40 billion and delivering results comparable to former governors who worked with just N4 billion or N5 billion,” he remarked.
He also announced President Tinubu’s commitment to building a seaport in Abia to boost the state’s economy and trade.
He reiterated that his role as the opposition leader in Abia compels him to hold the government accountable, stating, “We can be friends, but as long as we are in different political parties, my job is to be the watchdog for the masses.”
The event, which drew prominent APC figures such as Rev. Trump Eke, Charles Ogbonna, Emeka Stanley, Don Ubani, and Chikezie Mba, saw stakeholders praising Kalu’s leadership and assuring him of their support in future political endeavors.
Many attendees encouraged Kalu to contest the governorship in 2027, though he tactfully avoided confirming such plans.
The atmosphere was charged with optimism as APC supporters rallied around the Deputy Speaker, signaling the party’s determination to gain control of the state.