Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that he will oppose the re-election bid of Governor Alex Otti in the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Kalu said his opposition to Otti would be strictly along party lines, stressing that political differences should not be mistaken for personal animosity.
Kalu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), maintained that while Otti remains his friend, party loyalty would compel him to work against the Labour Party governor in the next election cycle.
“I will oppose it because my party will be fielding its candidate. It’s about party interest,” Kalu said. “I am a member of APC. I work for APC. He should work for Labour Party. We should not lose friendship.”
On Road Projects and Performance
Responding to questions about his earlier comments that Otti was merely repainting and repairing roads constructed during his tenure, Kalu stood by his remarks, saying he was being honest rather than hypocritical.
“I said he was repainting the roads I built,” he stated, adding that the governor himself had acknowledged using templates from his administration.
However, Kalu conceded that Otti was working, noting that reconstructing existing infrastructure still counts as governance. “If there was a road before and you reconstruct it, you are working. I can’t lie to the public,” he said, though he added that he would provide further details in the coming months.
No Pressure To Join APC
The former governor also dismissed claims that he and other political figures had pressured Otti to defect to the APC.
“I never discussed about coming to APC with him. That is the truth,” he said.
Kalu emphasized that political actors should remain loyal to their respective parties, warning against unrealistic expectations of cross-party support during elections.
‘Only On Election Day We’ll Quarrel’
While reiterating his commitment to peace and stability in Abia State, Kalu said political rivalry should not overheat the polity.
“My duty is to bring stability and peace to the state,” he noted, recalling that he was elected governor in 1999 and left office 25 years ago.
But he was unequivocal about the 2027 contest: “One day is the only day we will quarrel — on election day. Everybody will answer his father’s and mother’s name based on party differences.”
Kalu further argued that governors cannot singlehandedly guarantee presidential votes outside their party structures, describing claims to the contrary as unrealistic.
The senator’s comments have set the tone for what could become a heated political contest in Abia State as the 2027 elections draw closer.
