Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to wrest control of Abia State from the Labour Party in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Sunday at a gathering of supporters and APC members held at Abia Hotels in Umuahia, Kalu expressed confidence in the party’s growing influence in the state and reiterated the need for Abia to align with the federal government for greater developmental gains.
“We are going to take over Abia in 2027; we want to work with the President to move our state forward,” Kalu told the crowd, which he described as “organic” and motivated by a shared vision rather than financial inducements. “When they see us gather, they think it’s about money. It’s not about money. It’s about the love we have for our President. It’s about the momentum for what will come in 2027.”
Kalu further revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to establishing a seaport in the South-East geopolitical zone, a move he said would significantly enhance trade and commerce across the region.
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He emphasised that the President is aware of the South-East’s commercial strengths, particularly in trade and entrepreneurship, and is determined to bring maritime infrastructure closer to the people.
“The President understands that the South-East is predominantly a trading region,” Kalu noted. “He is determined to bring a seaport closer to the people, and this will open up massive economic opportunities not just for Abia, but for the entire region.”
The Deputy Speaker maintained that integrating Abia State into the political mainstream is essential if the state is to benefit fully from federal initiatives and national development efforts.
Kalu’s remarks signal the APC’s strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, as the party seeks to expand its influence in the South-East, a region traditionally dominated by opposition parties.
Abia State is currently governed by Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election in a historic victory that ended the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
