By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The battle for the control of the soul of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Abia State has become messier, with major political actors dropping the name and office of President Bola Tinubu.
Although there had been a somewhat battle of wits raging among some major stakeholders over who is to be the leader of the APC in the State including the absence of a State Governor, however, the rivalry has in the last 24 hours snowballed into a full scale war between the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu and former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, a serving Senator.
The two political figures from same political enclave – Bende Local Council, have been claiming to have been annoited by President Tinubu to sit atop the process for the selection of the APC candidates in Abia State for the 2027 polls.
The Source reports that the President had, a couple days ago, handed over the primaries arrangement to State Governors, with a directive for the National Assembly Members to submit themselves to the Leadership of the Governor.
However, it was not clearly disclosed what the situation will be like in the four states where the APC does not have Governors, including Abia.
But in a short statement on Monday, former Governor Kalu, a ranking Senator, informed that as a “senior Governor” he has been charged with the responsibility to preside and ensure a hitch free ,fair and credible primaries to select the APC candidates in Abia State.
He expressed his appreciation to President Tinubu for reposing much confidence in him to coordinate APC activities in the State.
“I sincerely thank His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for the confidence reposed in me and the marching order to coordinate the activities in Abia state in respect of our great party ,the All Progressive Congress APC.
“As the most senior Governor in the state, I am committed to working closely with 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”, Senator Kalu stated.
However, in a swift response, the camp of Benjamin Kalu insisted that he remains the duly recognized and undisputed leader of the APC in Abia State.
It warned that any individual or group parading themselves as leaders of the APC in Abia State do so at their own risk.
The House of Representatives Deputy Speaker appreciated President Tinubu and the National Chairman of APC, Prof Nentawe Yilwaltda, for their overwhelming support before, during, and after the State Congresses of the party.
In the statement issued by the Abia State APC spokesperson, Uche Aguoru on Monday, April 27, 2026, the Deputy Speaker, also, expressed gratitude to the APC Ward and Local Council leadership in the state for their support.
“On behalf of the leadership and members of the APC, I want to sincerely thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his overwhelming show of support during the Abia APC Congresses which produced the current formidable leadership of our party in the state.
“We also deeply appreciate the National Chairman of our great party, Professor Nentawe Yilwaltda, for his commitment leadership and close attention in ensuring that Abia APC Congress was conducted peacefully and successfully.
“Furthermore, we wish to thank all our leaders for their sacrifices, roles and contributions in making sure that the party emerged united, and stronger, and wish to reaffirm unequivocally, and in line with collective decision of party stakeholders and members across the 17 Local Government Areas, that Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Benjamin Okezie Kalu, remains the duly recognized and undisputed leader of the APC in Abia state.
“Any individual or group parading themselves as leaders of the party in the State do so at their own risk.
“The leadership of the APC in Abia will firmly resist any attempt, no matter how highly placed, to sow seeds of division, create parallel structures, or undermine the unity and cohesion of our party”, Aguoru noted .
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