By Mercy Aikoye
Pressure is mounting on Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to join the 2027 Abia State governorship race after a coalition of stakeholders purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms on his behalf.
The forms were formally presented to Kalu in Abuja on Saturday, with the group urging him to contest the election and lead the party in its bid to reclaim power in the state.
The stakeholders said their action was driven by confidence in Kalu’s leadership record and contributions at the national level.
While presenting the form, leader of the delegation, James Uko-Kalu (SAN), described the Deputy Speaker as a committed public servant whose legislative impact and leadership style have earned him broad support.
“We are here because we recognise the invaluable contributions the Deputy Speaker has made to Nigeria’s legislative process,” he said.
According to him, Kalu’s consensus-building approach and ability to unite diverse interests make him a strong candidate for Abia’s governorship.
Uko-Kalu added that he had personally toured several communities and witnessed projects executed under Kalu’s leadership, noting that the lawmaker had demonstrated capacity for grassroots development.
In his remarks, retired Major General Jack Nwaogbu highlighted what he described as the recent revival of the APC in Abia and across the South-East.
“In the past seven months, there has been a remarkable rejuvenation of the party,” Nwaogbu said, crediting Kalu and other party leaders for reconnecting the APC with its grassroots support base.
Barrister Uzo Azubuike, representing stakeholders from Abia South, said the delegation came as “messengers of the people” and appealed to Kalu to prioritise the governorship race.
He described the Deputy Speaker as the most qualified candidate to deliver good governance and reposition Abia for growth.
Responding, Kalu thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and promised to announce his decision after consultations.
“I have received it with gratitude, and within the next one or two days, after due consultations, I will make my position known,” he said.
He commended the group for adopting dialogue and consultation rather than political agitation.
Kalu, however, stressed that his immediate focus remains strengthening the APC in the South-East and mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“You believe that if I come on board, it is because I share in the vision of the Eight-Point Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the APC, the Deputy Speaker called for unity among party members in Abia, insisting that the party’s electoral success would depend on collective commitment.
“The prospects of the APC in Abia will depend largely on the determination, unity, and commitment of its members,” Kalu said, adding that “the narrative of Abia must change” through a united political effort.
