The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has claimed that Governor Alex Otti would not have emerged as governor of Abia State in the 2023 general elections without his personal intervention. Kalu also said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is confident of winning elections in the state in 2027, despite the current dominance of the Labour Party (LP).
The former Abia State governor made these claims in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media office. The statement was signed by his media aide, George Maduka. It comes amid growing political tension in Abia State as major political figures begin early moves toward the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, Senator Kalu and his political team are fully prepared to deliver Abia State to the APC in 2027. He dismissed suggestions that Governor Otti or the Labour Party is the deciding force in Abia politics.
“APC does not need Governor Alex Otti to win elections in Abia State,” the statement said, adding that the ruling party at the federal level remains united and solid in the state.
Kalu, who is a former Chief Whip of the Senate and one of the most influential politicians in Abia, also alleged that Governor Otti personally visited his residence in Igbere on the night of the 2023 governorship election. According to him, the visit took place late at night, on the eve of the election.
“It should be clearly stated whether the governor will deny that he personally visited Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s residence in Igbere late at night on the eve of the election,” the statement said.
The lawmaker further claimed that several key figures who worked for the Labour Party during the 2023 election cannot deny holding discussions with him regarding the governorship contest. Among those mentioned was Chief Umeh Kalu, who served as the Labour Party’s coordinator in Abia State during the election.
According to the statement, these individuals allegedly approached Senator Kalu to seek his support and guidance ahead of the polls. The statement questioned why such discussions would have taken place if Kalu was truly politically irrelevant, as some of his critics have suggested.
“If he was not relevant, why was his house in Igbere visited on the night before the election?” the statement asked.
These claims come against the background of recent remarks by Governor Otti, who openly declared his intention to support the Labour Party candidate for Abia North Senatorial District in 2027. Otti had said his goal was to unseat Senator Kalu and end his long hold on the district.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti vowed that the Labour Party would “sack” Senator Kalu from the Senate in 2027. The statement described Kalu as part of the old political order and said Abia people were ready for a new direction.
Governor Otti, a former bank chief executive, won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party. His victory was part of a wider wave of LP successes across parts of the South-East, driven largely by public dissatisfaction with traditional political parties and the popularity of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Before Otti’s victory, Abia State had been governed for years by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC has also struggled in the state, often finishing behind the PDP in past elections. However, Senator Kalu remains one of the few APC leaders with a strong political base in Abia.
Kalu served as governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP before later defecting to the APC. He was first elected senator for Abia North in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. Over the years, he has built a loyal following, especially in Abia North, through grassroots engagement and political influence.
The 2023 elections in Abia were keenly contested and, in some cases, controversial. Results from several polling units were disputed, and delays in collation raised tension across the state. Like in many parts of the country, behind-the-scenes talks and political negotiations were common as parties struggled to secure victory.
For now, Governor Otti has not directly responded to Kalu’s specific claim about the alleged late-night visit. His supporters have continued to insist that his victory in 2023 was the result of popular support and a desire for change among Abia voters.
As preparations for 2027 slowly begin, the exchange of words between Kalu and Otti signals what many expect to be a tough political battle in Abia State. The contest for Abia North senatorial seat, in particular, is likely to attract major attention, given Kalu’s high profile and the governor’s open involvement.