In early build-up to the 2027 electoral cycle, Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has hinted at his intention to contest the Abia State governorship, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as suspicious political interference linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during a political engagement in Isialangwa, Kalu disclosed that calls from constituents urging him to run for governor have been mounting across Abia State. However, he emphasized that any formal declaration of ambition would be made at the “appropriate constitutional location” — Umuahia, the state capital.
“I have received your request for me to run for governor of Abia State, but I will respond in the coming days,” Kalu stated. “When we talk about governorship, there is only one place the constitution recognizes for such a declaration — Umuahia. That is where I will respond.”
The Deputy Speaker explained that rather than making piecemeal responses across local government areas such as Bende, Obingwa, or Aba, he intends to convene a broader audience in the state capital before making his position known. His remarks have fueled speculation about an imminent official declaration, signaling the possible commencement of political alignments ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Abia.
