A quiet but intense political war is currently unfolding in Abia State, with major figures from both the Labour Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in a fierce contest to become President Bola Tinubu's most trusted ally in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Key Players in the Abia Political Chess Game
Four prominent political heavyweights are at the centre of this struggle. Governor Alex Otti, the state's sole Labour Party chief executive, is leveraging his office and re-election ambitions to secure President Tinubu's goodwill. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, presents himself as Tinubu's most loyal lieutenant in Abia, using his national platform to criticise Otti's administration.
Former Governor and current Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, brings his vast political network and financial resources to the table, insisting the APC will deliver Abia for the President. Meanwhile, Works Minister Dave Umahi operates as Tinubu's regional emissary, using massive federal road projects to build goodwill and subtly shape political alignments across the South-East.
Flashpoints and Escalating Tensions
The rivalry reportedly reached a critical point when President Tinubu allegedly cancelled a planned visit to commission projects in Abia, sending Minister Umahi instead. This move displeased Governor Otti and laid bare the underlying tensions.
The conflict intensified publicly after Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu openly criticised Governor Otti for allegedly failing to acknowledge President Tinubu's contributions to state projects. At an APC rally in Umuahia, Kalu declared an open mission to "dislodge Otti's administration democratically in 2027" and ensure Abia aligns with the federal government, announcing a mega rally for December 29, 2025.
Kalu had earlier accused the governor of underperformance despite receiving what he claimed was between N38 billion and N40 billion in monthly revenue.
Otti's Forceful Rebuttal and the Data War
Governor Otti, responding through his Media Adviser Ferdinand Ekeoma, dismissed Kalu's revenue claims as "spurious." Ekeoma provided a detailed counter, stating that Abia's total allocation for eight months was N125 billion, far from the N304 billion implied by Kalu's monthly figures.
He further clarified that the Otti administration inherited a civil service with about 31,000 core workers on the payroll and has since expanded it to 67,000 workers, plus 5,349 newly employed teachers. The minimum wage, he noted, has risen from N30,000 to between N70,000 and N74,000.
At a civic reception, Otti adopted a more restrained tone, warning politicians to stop premature 2027 campaigns, describing such activities as "illegal" since INEC guidelines are not yet released. He stated that elections remain "in God's hands."
Internal Party Rifts and Warnings from Elders
The political landscape grew more volatile when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu visited Governor Otti. The Abia APC chapter swiftly distanced itself from the visit, triggering internal confusion and exposing significant rifts within the party.
This incident has fuelled widespread speculation about shifting loyalties and hidden alliances in the ongoing political chess game.
Traditional rulers and elder statesmen have voiced strong concerns. The Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Eze Linus Nto Mba, cautioned against "premature interests" and condemned "temperamental and unstatesmanlike outbursts." He urged Kalu to refrain from statements that could pit the governor against the President.
Elder statesman Dr. Eme Okoro questioned the need for grand gestures to prove alliance, noting that Tinubu and Otti were allies before assuming their current offices. He challenged the narrative, asking, "Must Abians go crawling with cups in their hands to pander to any President?"
The Stakes: Governance at Risk in a Recovering State
Observers warn that this early and intense scheming for 2027 is already distracting from governance in Abia, a state still rebuilding public trust after years of decay. The power struggle poses several concrete risks:
- Stalling critical reforms in infrastructure, security, and workers' welfare.
- Straining federal-state cooperation, potentially delaying funding and project execution.
- Creating policy uncertainty that could unsettle investors.
- Fueling deeper factionalisation within and between parties due to defections and realignments.
While Deputy Speaker Kalu has launched "Renewed Hope Partners for Kalu," a state-wide mobilisation structure across Abia's 17 LGAs, Governor Otti's supporters have formed the "Abia Arise Movement" to promote his achievements.
The consensus among political watchers is that no other Nigerian state is currently witnessing this level of early manoeuvring for the 2027 elections. As ambitions heighten and tensions deepen, the urgent need is for leaders to refocus on governance, lest Abia loses its recent momentum and slides back into instability.
