Barely 48 hours after Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, indicated interest in re-election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has signalled his intention to join the race ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state, news.ng reports.
According to sources, the Deputy Speaker, who is currently in his state, noted that members of his constituency in Bende have requested that he join the race to contest for the number one office in the state.
He said, “I am now in Isialangwa, and they’re saying, ‘Come and run for governor.’ The same way I answered the people of Bende, the same way I answered the people of Obingwa, is the same way I will answer you.
“I have received your request for me to run for governor of Abia state, but I will respond. I will respond in the coming days because I don’t want to do it local government by local government. I want to invite all of you to the capital.
He urged the people to represent their request at the state capital, Umuahia, where he will respond.
He added, “When we talk about governorship, when we talk about leading the people of Abia State, there is only one place the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has listed as the right place, the right jurisdiction to exercise the power of the office of the governor, and that is not in any other place but Umuahia.
“It will not be in Isialangwa. It will not be in Obingwa or Aba. It will be in Umuahia. So, wait for our invitation. We are going to invite you in a few days to come. All of you will come in your numbers and make that request again there at the state capital. When I hear it clearly on that day, I will respond.”
With the likes of Kalu joining the governorship race in Abia State, it presents a tough challenge to the incumbent governor, who is in the Labour Party, amid the huge federal support the Deputy Speaker will be accompanied by when he secures his party’s All Progressives Congress (APC) candidacy later in the year.
Abia will be a major talking point going into the 2027 general elections as the two heavyweight politicians have signified interest in contesting for the seat of governor of the state.
