Abia APC Splits as Stakeholders Push Kalu for Governorship, Opposition Camp Objects

Tensions have risen within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State after party stakeholders publicly endorsed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, as a preferred governorship contender for the 2027 election.

The endorsement was declared during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, where representatives from across the state’s three senatorial districts and all 17 local government areas reportedly threw their support behind Kalu, urging him to formally enter the race.

Party figures at the gathering argued that the APC needed a strong and widely acceptable candidate capable of challenging for victory in the upcoming election.

However, the decision immediately sparked opposition from another faction within the party, led by governorship hopeful Mascot Uzor Kalu, who dismissed the endorsement as unfair and lacking inclusiveness.

He alleged that the process sidelined other aspirants and warned that any attempt to impose a preferred candidate without broad consultation would be strongly resisted by affected members.

Responding to the endorsement, Benjamin Kalu expressed appreciation for the confidence shown in him but noted that he would announce his final position on the matter at a later date.

The development has further exposed divisions within the Abia APC, as rival camps continue to clash over the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 governorship election.