Politics

Deputy Speaker, Kalu: Alex Otti Will Be Abia’s Last Labour Party Governor

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 19th, 2024.

Deputy Speaker, Kalu: Alex Otti Will Be Abia’s Last Labour Party Governor

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, House of Reps

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has asserted that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be the dominant force in Abia state politics following the current administration.

Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency and previously served as the spokesperson for the House, made this declaration in an interview. He stated that Alex Otti, the current governor of Abia from the Labour Party, will be the last Labour governor of the state.

Kalu, 53, expressed his confidence in the APC’s future dominance: “This will be the final term for a Labour governor in Abia state. I am certain that the next governor will be from the APC.”

He emphasized his personal friendship with Governor Otti and noted that he has communicated his views both publicly and privately. “Although we are friends and collaborate on various issues, I believe the APC will take over governance in Abia. I have informed him that the APC will win the governorship in 2027, though the specifics of how this will occur remain to be seen.”

Kalu attributed his confidence to the efforts of the APC-led federal government, which he believes will benefit Abia state. “Our government, along with President Buhari’s administration, is working diligently for the advancement of Abia. We are grateful for the establishment of the South East Development Commission and the appointments of Abians to key positions. We intend to leverage these contributions and ensure that the APC’s influence leads to significant development in Abia.”

He concluded by stressing the APC’s commitment to Abia state: “The APC will decide the next governor of Abia. I am less concerned with who the candidate will be, but the platform, APC, will be the next governor. We are eager to contribute to Abia’s growth and are ready to harness the power of the center to drive the state’s development.”

Kalu acknowledged that while Otti has performed well compared to other governors, he remains firm in his belief that Abia should be governed by the APC.