ABUJA: A leadership tussle appears to be brewing within the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as two top figures — Benjamin Okezie Kalu and Orji Uzor Kalu have both said they were directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take charge of party affairs in the state.
The development comes ahead of intensifying political realignments toward the 2027 general elections.
Abia State is currently governed by Alex Otti of the Labour Party, leaving the APC in opposition and seeking internal cohesion ahead of future contests.
In a statement shared on his official social media page, the Deputy Speaker said President Tinubu had reaffirmed a structure in which APC governors manage party affairs in their states, while in states without APC governors, the highest-ranking elected official assumes responsibility.
According to him, this places the burden of leadership in Abia on his office.
He expressed appreciation to the President for maintaining what he described as a consistent model that has strengthened party unity from ward to state levels, adding that the APC in Abia is now more united and poised to win future elections.
However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North, also declared that he had received a directive from the President to coordinate party activities in the state.
In his own statement, released around the same time, Kalu thanked Tinubu for what he called the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work with stakeholders to reposition the party.
He stressed the need to produce candidates who are broadly acceptable and capable of delivering electoral victory for the APC in Abia, particularly in support of the President’s re-election bid.
The parallel claims by both leaders have sparked speculation of an emerging power struggle within the APC in Abia State, as the party seeks to rebuild and strengthen its structure in a state currently controlled by the opposition.
Party stakeholders are expected to watch closely how the situation unfolds, especially as consultations and alignments intensify ahead of the next election cycle.
