IGBERE, ABIA STATE — In a significant realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Senator representing Abia North and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has formally announced the withdrawal of his support for the incumbent Governor, Alex Otti.
Speaking at a press conference at his Igbere country home on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Kalu declared a return to “total party loyalty,” pledging to deploy his political machinery to ensure an All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in Abia State and across the federation.
From Strategic Ally to Political Rival
The announcement marks a sharp departure from the 2023 electoral cycle, during which Senator Kalu was widely believed to have facilitated Otti’s path to the Government House. Kalu clarified that while he maintains a personal friendship with the Governor, his constitutional and partisan obligations now lie exclusively with the APC.
“APC is my party, and I will work for my party to win in 2027,” Kalu stated. “Supporting the APC is my right. I have never attacked the Governor, but the era of ‘cross-party’ support is over.”
Critique of Fiscal Management and Infrastructure
Senator Kalu leveled serious allegations regarding the current administration’s fiscal transparency and developmental impact. He claimed that due to post-subsidy removal federal allocations, Governor Otti has received more revenue in just two months than his own administration received during his entire eight-year tenure (1999–2007).
Despite this influx of capital, Kalu argued that the state lacks “fresh, groundbreaking infrastructure,” alleging that the majority of current projects are mere rehabilitations of roads originally constructed during his time as governor.
“My records are verifiable. During my administration, education and healthcare were free,” Kalu remarked. He contrasted this with his current performance as a senator, citing the construction of new rural and farmland roads across the Abia North Senatorial District as the benchmark for genuine developmental politics.
Response to Media Hostility
The Senator expressed profound disappointment over what he described as “unprovoked media attacks” from Governor Otti’s aides. He noted that despite his silence and refusal to criticize the administration for over two years, the Governor’s team has engaged in a campaign of calumny against him.
“I consider the Governor a friend, but I will not be a target for his aides while I am working for the progress of my district,” Kalu added.
2027 Predictions and Defection Rumors
Looking toward the next election cycle, Senator Kalu predicted a “landslide victory” for President Bola Tinubu and the APC. He dismissed ongoing rumors regarding Governor Otti’s potential defection to the APC, stating that while the party remains open to all, “party choice is a personal matter.”
The Senator’s declaration is expected to trigger a major power struggle in Abia State, which has been a stronghold for the Labour Party (LP) since 2023. Political analysts suggest that Kalu’s formal “return home” to the APC signals a coordinated federal effort to reclaim the South-East state in 2027.
