Umuahia, NIGERIA – The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has signaled his intention to enter the 2027 Abia State governorship race, promising a definitive response to mounting calls for his candidacy in the coming days.
Okay News reports that Kalu addressed supporters across various local government areas, including Isiala Ngwa, Obingwa, and Bende, where he was met with formal requests to join the contest. Rather than declaring at these local stops, the lawmaker emphasized that a matter of such constitutional weight must be addressed at the state’s seat of power.
“I have received your request for me to run for governor of Abia State, but I will respond in the coming days because I don’t want to do it local government by local government,” Kalu stated. He maintained that Umuahia is the only “right jurisdiction” for such an announcement, inviting the people to gather in the capital for his formal answer.
The Deputy Speaker’s move comes amid a sharpening political divide in Abia State. Kalu, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been vocal about his desire to see Abia “aligned with the center,” often challenging the incumbent Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party.
Observers believe the upcoming invitation to Umuahia will serve as the formal launch of Kalu’s campaign to reclaim the state for the APC. With the 2027 election cycle drawing closer, this development sets the stage for a high-stakes battle between the federal-backed APC and the incumbent state administration.
