A fresh leadership dispute has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, as former governor Orji Kalu and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, both assert control over the party’s structure in the state.
Orji Kalu, who currently represents Abia North in the Senate and served as governor from 1999 to 2007, and Benjamin Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, have each claimed they were directed by President Bola Tinubu to oversee party affairs in Abia.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti, however, belongs to the Labour Party, under which he secured victory in the 2023 governorship election.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Orji Kalu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility of coordinating APC activities in the state.
“As the most senior governor in the state, I am committed to working closely with all stakeholders, in line with the president’s directive, to ensure that the APC in Abia produces candidates who are widely acceptable, united in purpose, and well-positioned to secure victory in the state for the president’s re-election, while advancing the best interests of Abia State and Nigeria at large,” he wrote.
He accompanied the post with a photo of himself shaking hands with the president at what appeared to be the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Benjamin Kalu, however, countered the claim with a similar post on his own Facebook page around the same time.
He thanked President Tinubu for “insisting that governors should handle the issues of the party in the states with APC governors, while the highest ranking political office holders like the deputy speaker takes care of the affairs in Abia State.”
The deputy speaker said the president reaffirmed this position during a recent engagement.
“You have always worked with this model all through the ward, local government and state congresses and it has brought us great success.
“It has united the party more than ever before and we are ready to win elections in Abia State for you and for everyone who has an interest to contest under our party,” he wrote.
“Abia APC has never been this united and forward looking, thanks to your support. We will deliver Abia votes overwhelmingly.”
Like Orji Kalu, he also shared a photograph of himself with the president at the Presidential Villa.
The rivalry between both leaders is widely linked to the build-up toward the 2027 governorship election in Abia State.
Benjamin Kalu is believed to be eyeing the governorship ticket under the APC platform. At the same time, Mascot Kalu, the younger brother of Orji Kalu, has also declared his intention to contest for the same ticket.
The situation has already stirred tension within the party. Recently, APC chieftain Agwu Emeaba, who is aligned with Orji Kalu, warned of a potential crisis following moves by some party leaders to endorse Benjamin Kalu for the 2027 race.
Mascot Kalu also rejected any attempt to impose a consensus candidate.
“Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity (that) any premeditated consensus arrangement orchestrated by the APC State Working Committee and stakeholders, without the participation of all aspirants contesting for the same position, is illegitimate, unacceptable, and null and void, ab initio,” he said in a statement issued in mid-April.
“Such an imposition will be met with stiff and unequivocal resistance,” the politician added.
The renewed leadership clash comes just weeks after Orji Kalu publicly dismissed reports of any disagreement with the deputy speaker over control of the party structure in Abia.
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