Group declares Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu as rightful leader of the party in Abia State.
The South East APC Renewal Group has strongly condemned recent remarks allegedly made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu claiming to be the coordinator of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State. The group described the claim as unconstitutional, misleading, and a direct insult to loyal members of the party across the state.
In a statement signed by Comrade Jerry Okwu, the group accused the senator of attempting to mislead party faithful by suggesting that a recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu automatically conferred leadership authority on him within the Abia APC structure. According to the group, no official appointment or constitutional provision supports such a claim.
The group maintained that the APC constitution clearly recognizes the highest-ranking elected political office holder in a state as the leader of the party structure. It insisted that the position rightfully belongs to Benjamin Kalu, who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and occupies one of the highest constitutional offices in the country.
The statement further accused Senator Orji Kalu of abandoning the party during difficult times while Benjamin Kalu allegedly invested personal resources in sustaining the APC structure in Abia State and mobilizing support for the ruling party in the South-East region. The group argued that it was unfair for the senator to seek control of a structure he allegedly neglected for years.
Raising concerns over what it described as “dynasty politics,” the South East APC Renewal Group alleged that the former governor was positioning family members and close associates for strategic political appointments and elective offices. The group warned that such actions could undermine internal democracy and weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reaffirming its support for Benjamin Kalu, the group described him as the symbol of the APC’s growing influence in Abia State and the party’s strongest path to electoral success in 2027. It warned that the party must not be surrendered to personal ambitions and urged members to remain united behind the Deputy Speaker’s leadership.
