The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been thrown into a state of confusion following conflicting claims of leadership by two of its most prominent figures: the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and the Senator representing Abia North and former Governor of the State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
In a dramatic turn of events that has set the political space abuzz, both leaders took to their respective Facebook pages to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding them fit to lead the party in Abia State. This simultaneous "appreciation" has left party faithful and observers asking the million-dollar question: Who is the authentic leader of the APC in Abia?
The Dual Claims of Anointment
The crisis began when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu announced that President Tinubu had given him a "marching order" to coordinate the activities of the APC in Abia 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," Orji Kalu wrote .
The former Governor emphasized his status as the "most senior Governor in the state," pledging to work with stakeholders to produce "acceptable candidates" for the 2027 polls.
However, within hours of that post, the camp of Benjamin Kalu fired back. The Abia APC leadership, through its spokesman Uche Aguoru, rallied behind the Deputy Speaker, declaring that Benjamin Kalu remains the undisputed leader of the party in the state .
The party warned that "any individual or group parading themselves as leaders of the party in the State do so at their own risk," vowing to resist attempts to create parallel structures .
The Battle for 2027 Strategy
This leadership tussle is more than just a title dispute; it is a high-stakes battle for the soul of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the heart of this conflict is the ambition to capture the Abia State Government House.
While Orji Uzor Kalu, a political heavyweight with nationwide influence, appears to be positioning himself as the "overlord" tasked with rebuilding the party machinery, Benjamin Kalu is not just fighting for party leadership but is also harboring gubernatorial ambitions .
Recent reports suggest that as part of his strategy, Orji Uzor Kalu is reportedly being considered for an automatic Senate ticket to retain his position, solidifying his base of power .
Benjamin Kalu, on the other hand, is rallying the state executives and local government chairmen to his side, arguing that as the highest-ranking political office holder from Abia (Deputy Speaker of the Federation), the party structure rightfully belongs to him .
A History of Denials
Interestingly, this confusion is not entirely new. Just last month (March 2026), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had dismissed speculations of a rift with Benjamin Kalu. He told supporters in Igbere that "everything the Deputy Speaker did was agreed on before it was done" and insisted that the party was united .
"We are going to fight as one," Kalu had said previously, assuring that "genuine reconciliation" had taken place . However, the events of the last 24 hours indicate that the "reconciliation" may have been fragile, as the two camps now operate on divergent directives from the Presidency.
Analysis: What is Really Happening?
The confusion appears to stem from a lack of a clear governor in Abia State. President Tinubu had handed over primary arrangements to State Governors, but in states where the APC has no governor (like Abia), the directive became ambiguous .
While Orji Uzor Kalu interprets the "coordination" role literally—as the leader of the party, Benjamin Kalu’s camp argues that coordination does not equal leadership, insisting that the Deputy Speaker remains the rallying point.
As of press time, the Presidency and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwaltda, have yet to issue a clarifying statement to resolve the ambiguity.
For now, the Abia APC finds itself in a peculiar situation where two powerful men from the same Bende Local Government Area both claim to have the backing of the President. As 2027 approaches, it is a battle that promises to shape the political destiny of Abia State.
What are your thoughts? Who do you think is the authentic leader of the APC in Abia? Let us know in the comments section below.
Follow Harmony reporters for more updates on Abia politics and breaking news.
Tags
politics