By Peter Omopo
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to retain its governorship ticket within the Abia Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kalu made the call while receiving members of the APC at his Bende country home on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu.
The Deputy Speaker said it would be inappropriate for the party to zone the governorship ticket outside the district currently occupied by Governor Alex Otti, stressing that the state’s zoning arrangement should be respected in the interest of political stability and cohesion.
He also encouraged governorship aspirants within the party to remain committed to their ambitions, urging them not to relent in their pursuit of elective offices.
Speaking while receiving one of the APC governorship aspirants, Dr. Eric Opah, Kalu assured aspirants of his support and insisted that the party must remain united and determined ahead of the elections.
According to him, the same political energy that built the party’s grassroots strength in the state would be sustained to ensure success in future elections.
Kalu disclosed that he had also received formal notifications from former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Henry Ikoh, as well as Mascot Uzor Kalu, regarding their political ambitions.
The Deputy Speaker suggested consensus as the preferred mode of selecting the party’s governorship candidate but noted that direct primaries could be adopted if necessary.
He maintained that the zoning formula in Abia State has helped to reduce political tension and electoral violence, urging party members to preserve the arrangement.
Kalu recalled that the governorship rotation in the state moved from Abia North to Abia Central and then to Abia South before returning to the Central district, where Governor Otti currently serves.
According to him, disrupting the zoning structure could undermine political harmony in the state.
The lawmaker also reiterated his earlier position that the APC would take over Abia State in 2027, explaining that his remarks were not driven by personal ambition but by the need to align the state with the Federal Government.
He argued that Abia State has remained too distant from the centre and could benefit more from closer integration with the ruling party at the national level.
Kalu further praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting true federalism and empowering sub-national governments through increased federal support and infrastructure development.
