Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will not return to the Senate in 2027, saying the Labour Party is ready to prevent the former governor from reclaiming the Abia North senatorial seat.
Otti’s statement, issued via his Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, came in response to comments by Kalu in Ebonyi State, where the senator pledged to deliver a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in 2027, and hinted at supporting an APC candidate for the next Abia governorship.
The governor dismissed Kalu’s remarks as unnecessary and “unserious,” stressing that he never sought the senator’s backing. He challenged Kalu to provide proof of his claimed influence in Bende Local Government Area, noting that APC performed poorly in the area during the 2023 elections despite Kalu’s involvement.
Otti credited his 2023 victory to trust, character, and a clear vision for Abia, highlighting visible achievements of his administration so far. He expressed confidence that voters would grant him even stronger support in 2027.
The governor also criticized the reported entry of Kalu’s younger brother into the 2027 governorship race, recalling that the candidate finished last in the 2023 election under a different party. He further revealed that several Labour Party aspirants are already eyeing the Abia North senatorial seat and assured that whoever emerges will have his full support.
