- His statement comes amid rising tensions between the APC and the current Labour Party-led administration
- “They fired the first salvo, and I replied by saying that since I am APC, I will work for APC to win
- Kalu, who claimed to have been instrumental in Otti’s victory in the 2023 governorship race
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has officially withdrawn his support for Governor Alex Otti, signaling a major political realignment in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Kalu, a former governor of Abia, revealed on Thursday at his country home in Igbere that he would now actively mobilize support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the Labour Party-led administration has failed to meet expectations.
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Kalu, who claimed to have been instrumental in Otti’s victory in the 2023 governorship race, described the deterioration in their relationship as being fueled by provocative statements from the governor’s media team, particularly the Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Okaoha.
“They fired the first salvo, and I replied by saying that since I am APC, I will work for APC to win. We worked for him to win in 2023, but we are not going to do that again,” Kalu asserted.
The senator did not hold back in critiquing Governor Otti’s performance, stating that the current administration’s projects largely involve rehabilitating infrastructure initiated during his own tenure from 1999 to 2007.
“The money Alex Otti received in four months is what I received in eight years. So, what has he done? He is just repairing and rebuilding the roads I built. I have not seen any new major road,” Kalu said, adding that rural communities remain largely neglected.
He further contrasted the current administration with his own, recalling that education and healthcare were free under his governorship, achievements that drew praise from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Kalu also dismissed the growing social media acclaim for Otti, warning that governance is not determined by online narratives but by tangible action and results at the grassroots level.
His statement comes amid rising tensions between the APC and the current Labour Party-led administration, with speculation that Otti is under pressure from ruling party leaders to consider joining the APC.
Recently, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, visited Otti to discuss regional support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, highlighting the strategic push to consolidate the South-East for the ruling party.
Political observers see Kalu’s move as a clear message that the 2027 elections will be fiercely contested in Abia State, with old alliances breaking down and new coalitions forming, underscoring the volatility of Nigerian state-level politics in the lead-up to national elections.
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