₦airaland Forum

The political tsunami unleashed by Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election did something extraordinary to Nigerian politics. It shattered the comfortable assumption that power belonged only to godfathers, party chieftains and candidates who had spent decades building machinery. Nigerians who had been written off as electoral spectators became participants in a revolt that sent shock waves through the establishment.

The Labour Party became the vehicle of that revolt. In Kaduna State, Donatus Mathew, popularly known as an Okada rider and reported to have once served as a councillor, defeated a four term incumbent to win the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. In the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe rode the same wave to the Senate. Other Labour Party candidates won seats in the National Assembly and state legislatures on the strength of the energy Obi's candidacy generated. The lesson was unmistakable: a determined electorate can overturn conventional political calculations.

In Abia State, Alex Otti was one of the principal beneficiaries of that realignment. His 2023 victory was a triumph of perseverance, but it was also part of a wider revolt against the political establishment. The Obidient movement gave the Labour Party unprecedented visibility, energised its supporters and persuaded millions that it was a credible alternative to the status quo. Otti did not win in a vacuum. Which makes his present double game impossible to ignore.

A governor who will not say who he is voting for

Three years after that historic election, Abians are entitled to ask a simple question. Is Alex Otti aligned with Peter Obi's aspiration for 2027, or is he quietly positioning himself for another four years of Bola Tinubu? This is not an academic exercise. It is a matter of political integrity, democratic accountability and respect for the voters who put him in Government House.

In September, 2026, Otti had allegedly declared he was not in a position to oppose Tinubu's second term bid. Speaking in an interview released by Arise News, he argued that cooperation with the Federal Government should not be mistaken for partisan endorsement. He said he had a presidential candidate he was expected to support, while stressing that Tinubu had the constitutional right to seek reelection.

On the surface, that sounds measured. Governors must work with Abuja whatever the party colours. Roads must be built, security must be coordinated and federal allocations must be secured. Nobody sensible expects Otti to wage a needless war against the President to prove his opposition credentials.

However, there is a world of difference between cooperating with a president and declaring yourself unable to oppose his reelection. One is constitutional duty. The other is a political statement, and a loud one. Why would a governor elected on an opposition platform be so careful to explain why he cannot oppose the ruling party's candidate, yet so reluctant to name the opposition candidate he says he will support? Otti says he has a presidential candidate. Who is it? Can he say the name without footnotes, qualifications and a lecture on why his relationship with the incumbent must not be misunderstood?

The campaign council list that changes the conversation

Then came October 14, 2026. President Tinubu inaugurated his expanded Presidential Campaign Council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, a council deliberately stretched to include figures from other parties, among them Nyesom Wike, Governor Ademola Adeleke and Governor Chukwuma Soludo. This was no ordinary party roll call. It was a broad coalition built to swallow the opposition space.

On the list, according to The Whistler, was Comrade Onyebuchi O. Chukwu, Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Youth Development, named as a general member of the council. He told the newspaper he was surprised, that nobody had consulted or informed him, and that he had received no directive from the governor on the matter. He also pointed to confusing entries on the list, where a similar name appears in more than one place. Give the aide his due. His explanation deserves to be heard, and no one should pretend that a name on a published list is the same as a signed oath, but let us be blunt about what this episode exposes.

A member of the Otti administration appears on the official campaign roster of the man Otti says he cannot oppose, and the governor who is so eloquent about why he cannot oppose Tinubu has so far said nothing that settles the matter. The aide says he got no directive from his principal. Fine. Then the governor owes Abians a directive now. Will his appointees serve on Tinubu's campaign council or will they not? Does he approve, or does he not?

If more appointees or aides from the Otti camp have been drawn into that structure, Abians deserve to know their names and to hear the governor say, in plain language, whether they act with his blessing. Silence on this question is not neutrality. In politics, silence in the face of such a listing is a message, and voters are entitled to read it.

When an opposition governor says he cannot oppose the President, when one of his own aides turns up on the President's campaign list, and when the governor will not name his candidate, the pattern is not hard to see. Whether by design or by drift, it looks like a man keeping a foot in each camp.

From the Obi tsunami to political ingratitude?

Let us be clear. Peter Obi did not personally manufacture every Labour Party victory in 2023, and the electorate should not be reduced to blind loyalty to one man. Otti had his own record, supporters and grassroots appeal. He fought a hard battle and earned his mandate, but it would be intellectually dishonest to pretend the Obi phenomenon had no bearing on the environment in which Otti triumphed. Millions of Nigerians, especially young people, professionals and previously disengaged voters, rallied around an alternative to the established parties. That energy lifted candidates whose individual prospects might otherwise have been far dimmer.

Otti's victory belonged to Abians, but it was also part of that wider moment. For a beneficiary of that movement to be so reluctant to separate himself from the establishment it set out to challenge is, frankly, an insult to the good people of Abia State who made it happen.

No one is saying Otti owes Obi personal obedience, or that the Obidient movement is owed perpetual allegiance, but independence is not evasiveness. A leader can disagree with his allies. He can change his mind. He can even back a former opponent. What he cannot do is demand that the electorate treat such choices as inconsequential and stop asking questions.

A trail of hedging

Consider the sequence. In January 2026, Otti said he remained in the Labour Party but added the now familiar line that nobody knows what tomorrow holds. In February, he insisted the party remained a formidable force despite Obi's departure. In July, he rejected Hope Uzodimma's claim that South East governors had agreed to back Tinubu's reelection. In September, he said he was not in a position to oppose Tinubu. In October, a member of his administration surfaced on Tinubu's campaign list.

Taken one by one, each can be explained. Taken together, they form a pattern that no amount of careful phrasing can hide. Yes, Otti has every right to determine his position independently of other South East governors, and Uzodimma cannot speak for him, but independence from Uzodimma does not prove allegiance to Obi. Rejecting someone else's endorsement of Tinubu is not the same as endorsing an alternative. Saying you belong to the Labour Party is not the same as committing to the project that made the party formidable.

This is the face of Janus: one profile turned toward the Labour faithful who delivered Abia, the other turned toward Abuja and the incumbent. A governor cannot forever enjoy the goodwill of one constituency while keeping the door open to its principal opponent.

Cooperation is not capitulation

Nigerian governors routinely deal with the Federal Government on funding, infrastructure, security and economic policy. That is not betrayal. Refusing to work with the President because he belongs to another party would be irresponsible, but cooperation must not become a convenient cover for submission. A genuine opposition governor can applaud a sound policy and condemn a ruinous one. He can accept federal support while demanding accountability. He can keep a working relationship with the President and still campaign against his reelection if he believes another candidate would serve Nigeria better. That is what political maturity looks like.

Otti's argument that the fuel subsidy was unsustainable without adequate funding is a policy position that can be debated on its merits. It is not, by itself, an endorsement. The problem is not that he agrees with Tinubu on some policies. The problem is that his constant explanations of why he cannot oppose Tinubu, now compounded by the appearance of his own aide on the Tinubu campaign list, have created a cloud of his own making.

If his position is principled, why is clarity so hard? Abians did not elect Otti to become an appendage of the Federal Government. They elected him to govern Abia and to exercise independent judgment in the national interest. The Federal Government does not own Abia's political future, and cordial relations with Abuja do not require Abia's governor to leave his own people guessing about a consequential presidential election.

What his supporters are asking

For many Abians who identify with Obi's message, the prospect of Otti drifting into the Tinubu camp would be deeply disappointing. For them, Obi represents the hope of a different political culture: greater fiscal discipline, more accountable leadership and a break from the entrenched practices of Nigeria's dominant establishment. Whether Obi can deliver on those expectations is a separate question, and his record must be scrutinised like anyone else's. But the aspiration is real.

To the supporters who propelled the Labour Party into national prominence, any Otti accommodation of Tinubu would force an ugly question. Was 2023 a mandate for change, or merely a temporary vehicle for individual politicians to capture office? Was that energy a genuine demand for a new direction, or an electoral resource to be harvested when useful and discarded when inconvenient?

These are uncomfortable questions. They are also legitimate. Otti is entitled to disagree with Obi. He is entitled to conclude that Tinubu deserves another term. He is even entitled to strike an alliance that disappoints the people who supported him. What he is not entitled to is applause without explanation.

Alex Otti cannot have it both ways

Ambiguity is not always sophistication. Sometimes it is simply ambiguity, and sometimes it is calculation dressed up as statesmanship.

He cannot insist that nobody should mistake his cooperation with Tinubu for endorsement while his appointees show up on Tinubu's campaign list and he declines to say where he stands. He cannot expect Abians to admire his independence from other governors while denying them the right to interrogate his own intentions. And he cannot expect the goodwill generated by the 2023 Labour Party movement to remain at his disposal regardless of the choices he makes in 2027.

The burden of clarity rests with him. This matters beyond the personalities involved. Nigeria's opposition politics is already battered by defections, party crises and competing ambitions. If Otti believes the Labour Party can survive as an independent force, he must show Nigerians what that independence means in practice. Will he back the party's presidential candidate, and does that commitment survive Obi's departure? Will he back whichever candidate best serves the national interest, and by what criteria? Or does he intend to preserve the Labour Party's identity in Abia while pursuing a separate arrangement with Abuja?

My final word to Governor Otti

Governor Otti, Abians are not asking you to fight President Tinubu. They are not asking you to jeopardise federal projects or turn governance into a permanent rally. They are asking you to stop making a simple question complicated.

Tell us whether your appointees on that campaign council have your blessing. Tell us whether you will direct them to step down or to stay, and tell us, without a lecture, whose presidential project you will support in 2027.

If you support Obi, say so. If you support Tinubu, have the courage to say so. If you back someone else, name him. If you are undecided, admit it, and stop dressing uncertainty up as political philosophy.

Do not mistake the patience of Abians for naivety. The Obi tsunami of 2023 proved that Nigerian voters can surprise politicians who believed outcomes were theirs to manage. It helped create opportunities for candidates across the country, including you.

The electorate can reward a politician, and it can punish one. It can celebrate your performance as governor while refusing to hand you a blank cheque on presidential politics.

Until you give a straight answer, the suspicion that you are preparing to accommodate a Tinubu second term will remain a problem of your own making. And if that suspicion is wrong, the easiest person to correct it is you.

Contact: Christopher Maduka can be contacted through chrismadu58@gmail.com

Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, must answer a simple question: Who is he supporting for president?

Is it Peter Obi, whose political movement helped create the wave that swept the Labour Party to national prominence in 2023? Or Bola Tinubu, whose administration controls the Federal Government? Or another candidate? What is Alex Otti afraid to make a bold stand on his preferred presidential candidate?

Otti's refusal to give a clear answer raises an uncomfortable suspicion: is he exercising political independence, or practising the oldest trick in Nigerian politics, showing one face to the people who helped him win and another to those who hold power?

This is the Two-faced politics Nigerians are tired of: one face for the movement that delivers electoral support, another for the establishment that controls political access and patronage.

Otti may reject that characterisation, but prolonged ambiguity makes it harder to dismiss.

One Movement, Two Political Realities

Otti did not emerge as governor in a political vacuum. His personal appeal and campaign efforts mattered, but Peter Obi's 2023 movement helped transform the Labour Party into a formidable electoral force. Across the South East, voters rallied around a promise of political renewal and a departure from the established order. Otti benefited from that political atmosphere.

He is entitled to his mandate, but he cannot reasonably expect the political context of his victory to be forgotten whenever questions about his allegiance become uncomfortable. Nobody is demanding that he worship Obi or surrender his independence. The question is simpler: if Otti has decided that another presidential candidate deserves his support, why can he not openly explain that decision?

If Obi remains his preferred candidate, why the hesitation? If Tinubu is his choice, why not defend it? If he prefers another candidate, why not make the case? A politician confident in his convictions should be able to answer these questions without hiding behind diplomatic ambiguity.

The Politics of Having It Both Ways

The apparent attraction of Otti's position is obvious. Remaining publicly noncommittal allows him to avoid alienating Obi's supporters while maintaining political flexibility in his dealings with Tinubu's administration. That may appear clever in the short term. In the long term, it risks looking like political double-dealing.

A governor can maintain cordial relations with the president while supporting an opposition candidate. He can protect Abia's interests without pretending that governance requires him to suspend his political convictions. Federal cooperation and presidential endorsement are two different things. Therefore, if Otti is withholding his preference to protect Abia's interests, he should explain precisely how declaring a candidate would undermine those interests. Otherwise, the justification begins to look suspiciously convenient.

You cannot claim the political benefits of a movement when it suits you, then retreat into convenient neutrality when that movement expects clarity. That is the contradiction Otti must address.

Indecision Is Not Statesmanship

There is a difference between a leader who carefully evaluates his options and one who refuses to take a position because he fears the consequences.

The first demonstrates judgement. The second risks appearing politically timid.

Indecision has consequences. It erodes trust, invites speculation, weakens political credibility and leaves supporters wondering whether their leader's convictions are genuine or merely convenient.

Worse, a politician who tries to satisfy competing political camps may eventually convince both that he cannot be trusted. Obi's supporters may question his loyalty to the movement that helped energise his electoral fortunes. Others may wonder whether his silence reflects genuine neutrality or an undisclosed political calculation.

These are risks, not proof of Otti's intentions, but they are risks his continued ambiguity invites.

What Do His Appointees' Political Activities Mean?

If reports that serving members of Otti's administration have allegedly joined Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Council are accurate, the governor should clarify whether their participation reflects their personal choices or a broader political understanding within his administration. Their activities do not automatically establish Otti's endorsement of Tinubu. Nevertheless, the public deserves a clear explanation of the apparent contradiction between such political activities and the governor's own silence.

If his appointees are acting independently, he should say so. If he shares their political preference, he should have the courage to acknowledge it. What is unacceptable is allowing the public to speculate indefinitely while offering no clear account of where he stands.

What Alex Otti Owes Abians

Alex Otti owes Peter Obi no blind loyalty. But he owes the public honesty about his political choices. If his political convictions have changed, he should explain why. If he believes Tinubu offers Nigeria a better future, he should defend that position. If he supports Obi, he should say so. If he remains undecided, he should admit it. What he cannot reasonably expect is to enjoy the political goodwill associated with Obi's movement while treating the question of his presidential allegiance as an inconvenience beneath his attention.

The problem is not that Otti might support a candidate other than Obi. It is that his prolonged ambiguity risks creating the impression that he wants to preserve the benefits of competing political relationships without accepting the cost of choosing between them. That is the essence of the Two-faced charge: one face turned towards the movement that helped open the door to power, another towards the establishment with which he must negotiate.

Whether that description accurately reflects his intentions is for Otti to disprove through clarity and consistent conduct. A politician cannot indefinitely face both directions and still expect everyone to believe he knows where he is going.

Otti must choose his path, explain his reasons and accept the consequences. Anything less risks turning political independence into an excuse for indecision and pragmatism into a convenient cover for political double-dealing. Nigeria has had enough of politicians who speak the language of change when seeking power and become mysteriously ambiguous when asked to demonstrate where their convictions stand.

Alex Otti should tell the people of Abia State where he stands. The people who helped bring him to power deserve clarity, not political hide-and-seek.

Livinus Agwu Obinna writes from Umuahia and can be reached via livinusobinna68@gmail.com

The appearance of Victor Nwokeji, Executive Vice Chairman of Zotmann International Limited and Zotmann Mining Limited, at the London Stock Exchange carries a message that extends beyond mining: Nigerian businesses must raise their ambitions, embrace originality and build enterprises capable of competing globally.

For generations, Nigerian entrepreneurs, particularly within the Igbo trading tradition, have built wealth through buying, selling and distribution. Their courage, commercial instincts and apprenticeship systems have created livelihoods, supported families and transformed towns into thriving commercial centres.

That achievement deserves recognition. But it must also become the foundation for the next stage of growth.

The business model that brought us this far should give us the confidence to advance further.

The world is moving rapidly. Technology is changing markets, customers are demanding more, and younger entrepreneurs are entering business with fresh ideas and new ways of operating. Established business owners cannot afford to remain in the same position simply because it has become comfortable.

Experience gives us an advantage only when we continue to learn and apply it. Yesterday’s success does not guarantee tomorrow’s relevance.

As younger people enter the markets we helped build, our response should be to advance into new opportunities, develop stronger enterprises and create room for the next generation. A trader can become a manufacturer. A manufacturer can become an exporter. A local enterprise can grow into a regional business and, eventually, a global company.

We must keep moving forward. Comfort is useful for rest; it is a dangerous place to build a permanent business strategy.

That progress also requires a stronger culture of originality.

Too often, once an entrepreneur demonstrates that an idea can succeed, others rush to reproduce it without adding anything meaningful. The same product, the same service and the same approach appear everywhere, sometimes with lower standards and unsustainable prices. The result can be a crowded market in which quality suffers, customers lose confidence and the person who invested in developing the idea struggles to recover that investment.

Copying alone is a weak foundation for lasting success. It encourages businesses to fight over existing value while neglecting the opportunity to create more.

There is nothing wrong with learning from another entrepreneur. Businesses everywhere build on existing knowledge. But the responsibility is to make a meaningful contribution: improve the product, solve an overlooked problem, serve a neglected customer, reduce waste, strengthen quality or introduce a better process.

If an idea inspires you, improve it. Give customers a reason to choose you beyond being a cheaper imitation.

The questions should be practical: What can I do better? What need remains unmet? What can I create that others have not considered? How can my business expand the opportunity for everyone involved?

An entrepreneur who develops a promising idea deserves fair competition. Competitors should raise the standard through better execution and fresh thinking, while respecting the work and reputation that others have built.

Nigeria needs more people willing to pioneer, experiment and invest in ideas whose value may take time to prove. We also need partnerships that bring complementary strengths together. One entrepreneur may understand the market, another may have technical expertise, and another may provide capital or distribution. Working together can achieve far more than several businesses copying the same model and weakening one another.

This spirit of innovation must guide our transition from trading to production.

Nigeria and much of Africa possess substantial natural resources. Yet too much of the opportunity associated with those resources is realised elsewhere: raw materials leave the continent, are processed abroad and return as higher-value products.

We must capture more of that value through processing, manufacturing, technology, logistics and export.

Mining illustrates the opportunity clearly. Extracting minerals is the beginning. Processing and refining them, and supplying materials that support manufacturing, can create additional businesses, skilled employment and industrial capacity.

Zotmann’s investment in mining, alongside its plans to expand into processing and manufacturing, reflects this broader ambition: building more of the value chain around Africa’s resources.

The same thinking applies to the local entrepreneur.

An importer can explore local assembly or production. A distributor can develop a manufacturing partnership. An agricultural trader can invest in processing, packaging and branded products. A business supplying minerals can consider opportunities in beneficiation, refining and industrial inputs.

Each step requires careful planning, expertise and investment. But each also creates an opportunity to build a stronger business and retain more economic value locally.

The London Stock Exchange engagement brings another requirement into focus: ambition must be supported credibility.

Access to international investors and partnerships requires more than a promising idea. Businesses must develop sound governance, reliable accounts, transparent operations, capable management and a clear commercial strategy.

Trust is earned through how a company operates, honours its commitments and accounts for its performance.

A business founded in Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, Kano or any other Nigerian commercial centre should be able to aspire to serve customers across Africa and beyond. Its place of origin should provide identity and strength, while its standards make it competitive wherever it operates.

Our apprenticeship tradition can help drive this transformation. Alongside trading skills, the next generation should learn product development, manufacturing, technology, financial management and international commerce. We should equip them to build on what previous generations achieved and take it further.

Nigeria’s entrepreneurial energy is one of its greatest strengths. The task now is to direct more of that energy towards original ideas, productive investment and businesses built to last.

Our resources should support our industries. Our industries should create skilled jobs. Our ideas should become products, services and brands that can compete across borders.

The challenge is clear: create something worthwhile, improve what already exists, and keep advancing.

The future will reward entrepreneurs who have the courage to leave familiar ground, the discipline to build credible businesses and the imagination to offer the world something better.

Dr Rex Ibegbu
Lagos

Since the unveiling of an Abian of impeccable integrity, a distinguished Sustainable Development Expert, Entrepreneur, Technocrat, and Project Management and Financial Sector Specialist with over 27 years of professional experience spanning development finance, agribusiness, financial services, pension administration, institutional development, enterprise development, strategic business advisory, and a renowned community leader, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, as the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the camp of the Nvosi faction of the Labour Party has been extremely restless.

Having unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade Dr. Agu Egbe from contesting by pleading with some influential Abians to persuade him to step aside, the Alex Otti government, their supporters, and the leadership of the Labour Party have now resorted to unsolicited advice, emotional blackmail, and desperate attempts to undermine his decision and bold attempt to offer himself for public service.

I can understand their frustrations. Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, though being in the ballot for the first time, is not a political lightweight. He is a man of capacity, competence, integrity, and proven accomplishment, and greatly loved and admired by his people. Together with his principal, the governorship candidate, Dr. Eric Opah, both represent a new political force driven not by personal ambition, but by a deep conviction that Abia deserves better.

Dr. Eric Opah and Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe are Abians whose motivations, origins, and convictions are uncommon. They have stepped forward with a clear mission, to rewrite Abia’s story of misgovernance, mismanagement, criminal diversion of public resources, lack of accountability, corruption, segregation, divisiveness, and the abuse of public trust.

They are determined to restore governance in Abia to its rightful purpose: serving the people, developing the state, and creating opportunities for every Abian, irrespective of clan, political affiliation, community, or social status.

This is precisely why their emergence has unsettled the Otti administration and the Labour Party. The palpable excitement that greeted the APC ticket across Abia, from the North to the Central and the South, is a clear indication that Abians are yearning for a leadership team they can trust. The people are excited because, for the first time in a long while, men with uncommon professional achievements, proven capacity, strong community roots, and impeccable character are stepping forward to offer themselves for the leadership of the state.

Abians are looking for a government that will give them hope, keep promises and serve them with empathy, and not propaganda. They are looking beyond empty rhetoric. They are looking for competence. They are looking for integrity. They are looking for accountability and honesty. They are looking for inclusive development.

That is the promise embodied in the Eric Opah/Agu Egbe ticket, and that is why Abians are excited. The APC has presented a team prepared to confront the failures of the Otti administration and restore hope and confidence to the ordinary Abian.

They have heeded to the cries of Abians, answered the call of duty, the call to serve, and they cannot abandon Abians who pledged their willingness to support and give them the opportunity to serve. For them, there is no turning back. So, the attempt to intimidate, blackmail, or discourage Dr. Agu Egbe has already failed.

The political equation in Abia has changed, and the people are ready for change. The APC is ready, Eric Opah and Godswill Agu Egbe are ready, Abians are ready to vote for the APC, and together we shall deliver Abia and restore the dignity of the teachers, the civil servants, the market woman, the bus and keke operator, and return the seat of power from Alex Otti’s bedroom to the Government House in Umuahia.

Uche Aguoru
7/10/2026

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State for the 2027 general election, Dr. Eric Opah, has unveiled Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe as his running mate.

Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, a sustainable development expert, entrepreneur, agriculturist, and renowned project management and financial sector specialist, was unveiled to the leadership and members of the party on Monday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Opah said he took his time to carefully select a running mate who would be a true partner in the development of Abia State and work with him harmoniously without unnecessary disagreements.

He described Dr. Egbe as a man of honesty, sincerity, and unblemished integrity, adding that he was confident that they would make a formidable team capable of delivering good governance to the people of Abia.

According to him, he and his running mate are contesting the 2027 governorship election to win, stressing that, when elected, they would work with honesty, transparency, and accountability and ensure that public funds are judiciously utilised for the development of Abia State.

Dr. Opah further stated that his administration would be transparent and accountable to Abians, with a strong focus on job creation, workers' welfare, infrastructure development, and wealth creation.

Also speaking at the event, the Abia State APC Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, described Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe as not only a man of integrity but also “a chosen man of God’s will.”

He pledged the full support of the party to the governorship candidate and his running mate, assuring them that the APC leadership would provide every necessary assistance to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 election.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe thanked Dr. Eric Opah and the APC for the opportunity and confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to work diligently with the governorship candidate, the party leadership, and members across the state to ensure that the APC emerges victorious and takes over the governance of Abia State in 2027.

PRESS RELEASE

APC CALLS ON INEC TO REVIEW THE REPORTED CANDIDATURE OF IFEANYI ELVIS OGBONNA FOR OHAFIA/AROCHUKWU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken note of the emergence of Mr. Ifeanyi Elvis Ogbonna as the reported candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency. We therefore consider it necessary to draw the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to matters concerning his membership and participation in the nomination processes of two political parties.

According to our records, Mr. Ogbonna's name is listed in the membership register of the All Progressives Congress submitted to INEC on 10 May 2026, the deadline for the submission of membership registers by all political parties, and we have no record of his resignation from the APC before the relevant deadline for the submission of party membership registers.

Mr. Ogbonna obtained the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and participated in the APC primary election for the House of Representatives seat for Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency held on 16 May 2026, where he polled 648 votes, placing sixth in the contest, at which Barrister Hagler Okorie served as Collation Officer.

His emergence as the NDC candidate for the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency election raises fundamental questions requiring clarification by the appropriate electoral authorities on how Mr. Ogbonna emerged as a candidate of another political party during the same electoral cycle.

Mindful of the constitutional requirement governing membership and sponsorship for election to the National Assembly, Section 65(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that a person seeking election to the Senate or House of Representatives must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that political party.

The Electoral Act 2026 also regulates political-party membership and nomination. In particular, Section 77 requires every registered political party to maintain a digital register of its members and provides that the register is to be made available to INEC within the statutory period preceding party primaries, congresses or conventions. The Act further provides that only persons whose names appear in the applicable party register are eligible to vote or be voted for at party primaries.

Also, Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2026 governs the nomination of candidates by political parties and the conduct of party primaries, while the Act gives INEC powers to monitor political-party activities and seek clarification where necessary.

The APC therefore requests INEC to establish, from the official records in its custody, whether Mr. Ogbonna was qualified to participate in the primary election of another political party within the same election season while still a duly registered member of the APC, and whether his nomination by the NDC complied with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and applicable INEC regulations and guidelines.

The APC believes that questions concerning the eligibility and nomination of Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Elvis Ogbonna as the candidate of the NDC should be reviewed in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC regulations, and verifiable documentary records.

We call on INEC to conduct the necessary verification and act accordingly in accordance with the law.

Signed:
Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State, has been drawn to a press release by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), claiming that our own Mama APC, Distinguished Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, is a member of their party, the NDC.

For purposes of clarity and to put the records straight, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu remains a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Nwaogu purchased the APC Senate nomination form and participated in the APC Senatorial Primary Election held on the 18th day of May 2026. She scored 12,033 votes to emerge as the runner-up in that election conducted by the APC, with Hon. Erasmus Cishark serving as the Returning Officer and Chairman of the APC Senatorial Primary Election Committee.

For the sake of emphasis, Senator Nwaogu's name is contained in the party's register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 10th of May 2026, being the last day for the submission of party registers to INEC and there is also no record of her resignation from the All Progressives Congress.

We are sufficiently aware that Mama APC, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, having served as a lawmaker, and an experienced one at that understands the legal implications of double registration. We therefore have no reason to believe that she would consciously subject herself to such a situation.

It is important to state categorically that all her registration details, including her membership card details, remain in our party's database and in the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a member of the All Progressives Congress. let us repeat for the second time that at no time did our cherished Mama APC resign her membership of the All Progressives Congress.

We consequently call on the NDC to desist from circulating information that is misleading and inconsistent with the records available to the relevant authorities and to refrain from creating unnecessary confusion among members of the public where the facts are clear and verifiable.

The membership records of distinguished Senator Nwaogu is documented and her participation and financial records are verifiable.

Signed:

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State
25/9/26

In a goodwill message released by the party’s spokesman and made available to newsmen, the APC described Dr. Agu Egbe as a man of ideas, character, conviction, and service.

Read full………

ABIA APC CELEBRATES DR. GODSWILL AGU EGBE ON HIS BIRTHDAY

Today we celebrate not only a distinguished professional, but a man of ideas, character, conviction, and service. His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State.

On this special day, we honour a man whose life reflects discipline, excellence, resilience, and an enduring commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

With over 27 years of professional experience in development finance, agribusiness development, financial services, pension administration, institutional capacity building, enterprise development, project management, and strategic business advisory, Dr. Agu Egbe has built a remarkable record of expertise and service.

But beyond the impressive credentials is a man whose value lies equally in his vision, humility, accessibility, courage, and willingness to contribute to the development of his people.

As we look ahead to 2027, the APC family in Abia celebrates Dr. Agu Egbe as an important part of the team carrying our collective aspiration for a greater and more prosperous Abia.

Dear Dr. Agu Egbe, today we celebrate you.

We celebrate your journey.
We celebrate your accomplishments.
We celebrate your courage to step forward and serve.

We celebrate the wisdom and experience you bring to our collective mission.
And we celebrate the hope and possibilities that lie ahead.

As you mark another year, may you continue to rise, inspire, and serve with distinction.

Happy Birthday, His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe!

On behalf of the APC State Working Committee, the state executive Committee and the entire APC family in Abia State, we celebrate and wish you many more years of grace, greatness, good health, and impactful service.

Happy Birthday, His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, our dear Deputy Governorship Candidate!

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC Abia State

It has come to the notice of the APC in Abia State, a statement credited to the Abia State Government, through the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, stating that our Party, the APC, lacks visibility in Abia State.

While we are not interested in a private discussion shared between two friends and former political allies at a time, we frown seriously at the attempt by the Abia State Government to drag the name of the APC into their political disagreement, which bothers on hate and clannish profiling.

We are neither aware of nor privy to what transpired and therefore cannot dismiss or ascertain the veracity of the allegation. However, we can only enjoin Ndi Ngwa to ascertain the truth of the information from the treatment the Alex Otti Government has been dishing out to them from the onset of his administration.

It should not also be lost on Abians that, at the beginning of the Otti administration, a commissioner and relative of the Governor said on live radio, while defending the sack of over 15,000 Abians from the civil service, that "majority of the sacked workers were from Ngwa."

The state of infrastructural neglect in all the local governments in Ngwa land is also a testament in support of the allegations of negative profiling of the Ngwa people by Gov. Alex Otti, even when the Governor lives and operates from there.

Available statistics and political history have also shown that the Labour Party Government introduced and supported politics of bigotry, hate, bitterness, divisiveness, brazen embezzlement and stealing of public funds through nonexistent projects, official wickedness, flagrant suspension and sacking of civil servants with no justifiable reasons other than coming from a particular clan. All these and more are attributes that the APC is coming to correct.

While it has become an official policy of the Otti Government to always indulge in lies, propaganda and misinformation, it is very important to set the records right that Chief Ogbonnaya was never against the reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, but rather, he corrected the misinformation being peddled officially by the State Government that Otti's Government is funding the reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road and denying President Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government its deserved credit.

While the candidates of the Nvosi faction of Labour Party are, at the moment, waiting on the Governor to negotiate their political future from Abuja, a move that is already dead and buried, we will not be tempted or be pushed into disclosing the level of work that has been put in silently by our Party to ensure that Alex Otti is kicked out from office by February, it is important that I remind you that the APC is the only political party in Abia State that has embarked on aggressive grassroots campaigning across all the wards in Abia State, while preparing to kick-start our LGA tours.

We sympathise with you over the uncertainty surrounding the status and fate of your faction of the Labour Party because of the impending Supreme Court judgment, going by available judicial precedence, the judgment will most definitely go against them.

The APC thanks Chief Charles Ogbonnaya for courageously standing by the truth and exposing the devilish hate agenda and promotion of divisive politics by the ruling Labour Party in Abia State against the Ngwa clan. We condemn in strong terms the alleged negative profiling of Ndi Ngwa by the Alex Otti-led Government.

Ndi Ngwa are the most friendly, kind, hospitable, hardworking, intelligent, popular and most populated race in Abia State. Profiling them as people without BRAIN, as alleged to have been done by Governor Alex Otti, is most uncharitable and deserves the condemnation of every well-meaning Abian.

We use this opportunity to call on every Abian to reject this politics of divisiveness, hate, negative ethnic profiling and bitterness introduced by the Alex Otti-led Labour Party in the State by voting them out come 2027.

We are encouraging Abians to keep supporting and vote for the APC in the Presidential, Senate, House of Representatives, Governorship and House of Assembly elections, and be assured that Dr. Eric Opah is coming to take over and correct the misgovernance, hate, divisiveness, politics of bitterness, hunger, excessive and multiple taxation, and suffering that the Alex Otti Government has inflicted upon us.

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State

PRESS RELEASE..

APC ABIA DISOWNS UNAUTHORIZED STATEMENT ON CITY BOYS MOVEMENT


The attention of the State Chairman and the state working committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State Chapter, has been drawn to an unauthorized, illegal and malicious statement purportedly issued by the State Youth Leader, calling for the suspension of the activities of the City Boys Movement in Abia State.

The State Chairman wishes to state categorically that the said statement was issued without his consent or authorization and without the approval or knowledge of the State Working Committee (SWC). Consequently, the statement does not have the endorsement, approval or support of the leadership or members of the party in Abia State.

The APC in Abia State is working in harmony and partnership with the leadership of the City Boys Movement, as well as other support groups and political structures across the state, in pursuit of the common objective of ensuring the overwhelming victory of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the candidates of the party, in the 2027 general election in Abia State.

The party therefore cautions the State Youth Leader to desist from engaging in unauthorized actions or issuing statements capable of creating the impression of disunity, causing disaffection, or undermining the collective efforts and unity of the party in the state.

All party members, supporters and affiliated groups are advised to disregard the said statement and remain committed to the decisions and directives duly issued by the appropriate organs of the party.

The leadership of the APC in Abia State remains committed to maintaining unity, discipline and cooperation among all its members, support groups and stakeholders as we work collectively towards victory in 2027.

Signed:

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State.

STOP DEFRAUDING ABIANS THROUGH PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES PAYMENT.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) commends the Abia State Government for having listened to our position and displeasure over its refusal to pay the pensions and gratuities of our retirees, and for commencing efforts to pay the gratuities owed to our senior citizens.

It is on record that, two years ago, Governor Otti announced to the world that he had cleared all the backlog of arrears owed to retirees. The news was widely sponsored and publicised across the media, both locally and internationally, and earned Governor Otti huge applause globally, “though undeserved,” until the retirees themselves came out to tell their stories of how they were allegedly scammed and wickedly forced to sign-off their gratuities and pensions by the same government that had gone out to tell the world that it had paid off their pensions in full.

Across the nation, no state in the country was able to fully meet its pension and gratuity obligations to retired civil servants due to paucity of funds until the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023, who took the courageous step to remove the oil subsidy that only enriched a few individuals while causing the rest of Nigerians to suffer, in most cases resulting in scarcity of petroleum products which previous administrations claimed to be subsidising.

The removal of the subsidy, in effect, freed up funds, which President Tinubu has graciously continued to release in huge amounts to the sub-nationals.

Today, even states that could not pay salaries in the past have been guaranteed excess liquidity. A state like Abia, which used to earn between ₦2 billion and ₦4 billion monthly under previous administrations, now earns, on the average, ₦40 billion monthly from the federation accounts leaving states with no excuse to owe their workers or retirees and also enough to undertake infrastructural and human capital development.

Available records have also shown that all our neighbouring states of Enugu, Imo, Anambra and even Ebonyi, have paid off the gratuities and pensions they inherited from previous governments, with the glaring exception of the Alex Otti government in Abia State.

The APC in Abia has noted with disappointment that, according to available records in the pensions office, the amount owed retirees in gratuity between 2001 and 2010 was ₦3.8 billion, while the amount owed teachers and local government staff was less than ₦100 million, going by available statistics and data.

The previous administrations were offsetting the gratuities and pensions of local government staff and teachers instalmentally and in batches, leaving only an insignificant amount as rollover to the present regime.

This brings us to the fundamental question:

Where did the Abia State Government manufacture the data with which it claimed to have paid ₦7.2 billion between 2001 and 2010?

For emphasis, these data were contained in the handover note given to the Otti administration upon its swearing-in.

The total gratuity obligation to the state as of December 2021 was ₦3.8 billion, while the current Abia State Government claims to have paid ₦7.2 billion.

So, where did the Abia State Government manufacture the excess ₦3.4 billion from?

From the compilation of the Alex Otti government, it has, between 2023 and 2026, accumulated ₦11 billion in gratuities alone, a government that, by its own admission, have not reviewed the pensions and gratuities of these retirees, so how did they arrive at these huge amount.

It is obvious that the state government has fraudulently padded the said pension amount, and it has been established, going by information available to us from the pension office, that the figure being bandied about by the Alex Otti administration is grossly over-bloated.

If not, how, therefore, did the government manufacture figures of over ₦70+ billion owed in gratuities and pensions?

This is a mathematics that will take the combined efforts of Chike Obi and all the mathematicians across the globe to unravel.

The situation is so disturbing that even a prominent staff member of the pension office was reportedly said to have resigned her appointment because she refused to be part of the alleged padding arrangement.

The Abia State government should resist the temptation of always capitalising on the pensions and gratuities of retirees to defraud and fleece Abians.

The government should, please, ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of pensions and gratuities of our senior citizens under the Alex Otti administration.

The All Progressives Congress demands that the Abia State Government must address these issues with clarity, facts and figures rather than propaganda.

The All Progressives Congress also demands that the state government demonstrate transparency and accountability to Abians by publishing the names and amounts paid to the retirees.

The APC is deeply worried because, as of today, so many pensioners who fall within the category the Otti government claims to have paid have yet to receive their gratuities.

If the government has genuinely paid these retirees, then there should be no difficulty in publishing the names, amounts and payment records.

The APC will continue to stand with the retirees of Abia State and will continue to demand transparency, accountability and justice for our senior citizens.

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC Abia State.

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary son of the soil, High Chief Ikenna Okafor (FIHSD), Chairman of Constance Energy Group, a distinguished entrepreneur, visionary leader, renowned philanthropist, and an unwavering beacon of hope whose life exemplifies purpose, excellence, and service to humanity.

High Chief Ikenna Okafor is far more than a successful businessman. He is an innovator whose vision, enterprise, and strategic investments have transformed lives, created opportunities, and inspired countless young people to pursue greatness with courage and determination. His remarkable achievements in business are matched only by his generous spirit and steadfast commitment to the welfare of humanity.

Through his numerous acts of kindness, compassion, and philanthropy, he has consistently demonstrated that true greatness is measured not by wealth accumulated but by lives touched. His readiness to uplift the less privileged, empower communities, support meaningful causes, and give hope to the vulnerable has earned him the admiration and respect of people from all walks of life.

His unwavering love for his people, profound commitment to community development, deep appreciation of our cultural heritage, and relentless pursuit of excellence have established him as an exceptional leader, a mentor, and a lasting symbol of inspiration. Indeed, he is a legacy in motion whose positive impact will continue to resonate for generations.

As he marks another glorious year today, we join his family, friends, associates, and countless well-wishers in thanking Almighty God for the gift of his life. We pray that God continues to grant him divine protection, abundant wisdom, sound health, renewed strength, greater prosperity, and many more fruitful years of impactful service to humanity.

Happy Birthday to you, Ikuku Oma Uturu!

May your light continue to shine ever brighter, your influence expand beyond borders, and your noble contributions leave an even greater imprint on society.

Congratulations and many happy returns.

The management of Abia Hotels Ltd has raised an alarm over the alleged illegal sale of personal assets belonging to Investment Guarantee Ltd, the company that built and managed the hotel.

Recall that the management of the hotel instituted legal proceedings against the Abia State Government over what it described as the illegal sealing and the demolition of the hotel, a property that was duly and legally contracted to Investment Guarantee Ltd under a 25-year lease agreement backed a legally binding contract executed in 2013 to build and manage, and protected a 99 years Certificate of Occupancy.

Despite the matter being pending before a competent court, the Alex Otti administration, in November 2025, allegedly proceeded with the Sealing and the demolition of the hotel without regard to a subsisting court process where both parties have duly joined issues and without any valid or legal agreement with the management. The government also restricted the management’s access to the premises, preventing them from removing their movable assets valued at over ₦600 million.

In an SOS letter sent to newsmen, the management of the hotel today raised fresh concerns over the alleged looting and sale of their personal belongings and operational assets, including generators, television sets, air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, fans, cookers, water production machines, ice cream machines, industrial baking machines, certificates, and other valuable items.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Guarantee Ltd, Hon. Randie Ukawoko, who is currently in the United States on health grounds:

“The Abia State Government sealed our hotel in Umuahia and partly destroyed the property. We responded instituting legal proceedings, and the matter remains pending before a competent court and both parties have been in constant attendance. Notably, this latest escalation is particularly troubling because it comes shortly after the government made what now appears to have been a pretentious move toward an out-of-court settlement through some of its officials.”

He further stated:”We were never allowed to remove our valuables and operational equipment, including three heavy-duty generators and other personal properties, from the premises. At the time, the Chairman and CEO were away in the United States on health grounds, leaving behind critical personal and family documents, including degree certificates, awards, law books, and other irreplaceable records.

“It is truly astonishing and deeply disappointing that while we exercised restraint and pursued a peaceful resolution, a crowd invaded the hotel last week, in the full presence of police officers and men of the Abia State Vigilante security force, and was seen looting and stealing our properties. Now, the state has gone even further allegedly embarking on the sale of our assets.”

“These actions are excessive and carried out in clear bad faith. They demonstrate a regrettable disregard for the authority of the court and the fundamental principles of fairness and due process. No responsible government should treat a legitimate business or any citizen in this manner, especially after initiating discussions toward an amicable settlement.”

According to him, the management decided to speak out because “silence would only embolden further injustice.”

“This is not merely about our hotel; it is about whether private property rights, court processes, and good-faith negotiations still mean anything in Abia State.

“To members of the public, eyewitnesses, and all people of conscience: if you witnessed the sealing of the hotel, the partial demolition, last week’s looting and theft, or any attempts to dispose of our properties, or if you possess videos, photographs, or any other evidence, please preserve and share them. The truth is most powerful when it is documented.

“Just yesterday, July 6, 2026, the government advertised the sale of the premises to the public for the development of a housing estate, inviting interested persons to purchase. We consider it necessary to notify the general public that this property remains the subject of pending litigation, so prospective buyers are fully aware of the legal implications.”

Ukawoko maintained that the management remains fully committed to the legal process and the rule of law, expressing confidence that justice, though delayed, will ultimately prevail.

He called on the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the relevant authorities to intervene immediately, halt the alleged sale of the assets, and allow due process to take its full course.

According to him, the people of Abia deserve a government that respects the rule of law rather than one that appears to bend it to its will. He also urged members of the public to resist the temptation of purchasing properties that are the subject of ongoing litigation, warning of the legal consequences that may arise.

It would be recalled that the Alex Otti led Labour Party government in Abia State moved to seal and demolish the hotel following the hosting of an APC rally for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the hotel premises the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu. This latest action runs counter to the Governor’s public statement at flag off of the construction of the Radisson Blue Hotel Aba that he was replicating the same hotel at the Abia hotel Umuahia premises this year.

The National Chairman
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
National Headquarters
Wuse 2, Abuja.

Through:..

The National Secretary


Dear Sir,

URGENT ATTENTION: ZONING IMBALANCE IN OBINGWA/ OSISIOMA/UGWUNAGBO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, ABIA STATE.

We the underlisted stakeholders of the NDC write to respectfully draw the attention of the National Leadership of our great party the NDC to certain zoning irregularities currently evident in the allocation of elective positions in Abia State, particularly within the Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency.

It is our humble view that addressing these concerns will strengthen the party's chances of electoral success and promote the principles of equity, fairness, inclusiveness, and justice which our party stands for.

Presently, the positions of:
Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District;
House of Representatives Candidate for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency; and Member, Abia State House of Assembly for Osisioma Constituency, are all concentrated in Osisioma Ward 2, the home ward of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, the party's senatorial candidate for Abia Central.

This arrangement has effectively excluded Obingwa Local Government Area, which is the largest local government in the state and possesses the highest voting population. Such an imbalance will adversely affect the party's electoral fortunes, as many stakeholders and supporters may perceive the distribution of positions as inequitable.

Sir, it might interest you to know that the position of our federal constituency have always been equitably domiciled in the Local Government Area whose turn it is to have it at any election period.

Consequently – Osisioma Ngwa have held this position for 12 consecutive years via Distinguished Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu – Ward 2 Osisioma Ngwa LGA – 4 yrs
Hon Solomon Ezinwa Adaelu– Ward 3, Osisioma Ngwa LGA – 8 yrs totaling 12 years, Prof. Ohiagu from Ugwunagbor held the position for 4 years before Hon. munachim Alozie of the labour Party from same LGA who now occupies the seat completing 8 yrs for Ugwunagbor and presently running.

Hon Eziuche Ubani from Obingwa LGA did 8 yrs.

Sir, we appeal that you use your good conscience to think through the above submission and consider the consequences of localizing the Osisioma Ngwa / Obingwa / Ugwunagbo federal house ticket to a local government that does not have the mass appeal for winning elections.

Furthermore, the established zoning understanding for the position of Member, House of Representatives for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency favors Obingwa Local Government Area, from which Chief Victor Chukwudi Omelihu, a grassrooter, philanthropist, and the people's favourite hail.

In view of the foregoing, we most respectfully appeal to the National Leadership of our party to consider the candidature of Chief Victor Chukwudi Omenihu for the position of Member, House of Representatives, Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, in the interest of equity, fairness, justice, and the overall success of our party in the forthcoming general elections if indeed our party truly wants to win the election

We remain steadfast in our commitment to the ideals, growth, unity, and progress of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and we have every confidence in the ability of the National Leadership to ensure that justice prevails in this matter.

Thank you for your kind consideration as we anticipate your prompt intervention.

Signed....

1) Hon. Chief K. O. Mgbeahuru - Osisioma LGA.
2) Elder Onuiri Kanye - Osisioma LGA
3) Mr Uzoamaka Emereole - Obingwa LGA
4) Hon. Zacheus Chibuzo - Ugwunagbor
5) Mr Ezinwanyi Sunday - Ward Leader
6) Elder Okezie Njoku -Leader
7) Egbufor Jinanwa - leader
Hon. Odoemelam Kingsley - Leader
9) Elder Ochiabuto Dick - leader

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has been drawn to the laughable and hypocritical press statement titled “APC'S GOVERNORSHIP TUSSLE MUST NOT THREATEN PEACE IN ABIA” issued by the Umuehim Nvosi faction of the Labour Party, wherein it sought to feign concern over the internal affairs of our great party while conveniently ignoring the growing undemocratic practices, dictatorship, intimidation, and political manipulations that have become the hallmark of the Labour Party administration in Abia State.

Ordinarily, the APC would not dignify such a puerile, desperate and misleading statement with a response. However, it has become necessary to enlighten the public and expose the failed mission of the Abia State Government to sponsor and manufacture crisis within the APC using enormous state resources.

The Labour Party and the Alex Otti administration must understand that their heavily funded attempts to infiltrate, destabilize, and create confusion within the APC have failed woefully. What they have succeeded in doing is wasting scarce state resources on a futile political adventure that has yielded no result.

For the avoidance of doubt, the APC in Abia State remains united, focused, and firmly under the leadership of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and under his watch the party has grown stronger and larger than ever, and we are more determined than ever to provide the people of Abia State with the credible leadership they deserve and to take over governance at all levels in the state come 2027.

Unfortunately, a government that claims to enjoy widespread popularity is evidently terrified of facing a vibrant opposition at the ballot box. Rather than prepare to defend its record before the electorate, the Labour Party administration has resorted to its now familiar tactics of intimidation of opposing voices, destabilization of opposition parties, funding internal crisis within opposition parties, and the buying of weak and unprincipled politicians from opposition parties using state resources.

It has become very unfortunate that all the Labour Party Government does with the huge resources that accrue to the state from the federation account is to create crisis and turn around to blame the opposition; sadly, this has become a predictable strategy of the Labour Party in Abia State. Abians are now familiar with this pattern of deploying state resources to fund crisis in opposition parties, using the law enforcement agencies and the courts to harass, intimidate, and attempt to silence perceived political opponents, all for fear of facing strong opposition at the polls.

It becomes very laughable how the Umuehim Nvosi faction of the Labour Party, an organization that lacks internal party democracy and is run by a despotic leader, seeks to lecture other political parties about democracy. Let's assume that your members do not know. What the Labour Party describes as "peaceful primaries" are nothing more than orchestrated authoritarianism and suppression of people's will.

If you can describe a process where one man sits in the comfort of his bedroom in Nvosi, handpicks preferred candidates, and dashes out nomination forms as democracy, then you need to book a date with a psychiatrist.

No reasonable Nigerian will compare a factionalized party whose authenticity is yet to be settled by the Supreme Court with a stable, united, strong, functional, and well-organized party like the APC.

The APC remains a party that accommodates diverse opinions, choices, freedom of expression, and healthy competition among its members. Differences of opinion are normal in every democratic institution and should not be mistaken for division. Unlike the Labour Party, where dissenting voices are suppressed and outcomes are predetermined by just one man, the APC encourages internal democracy, inclusive participation, and constructive engagement among its members.

We therefore advise the Labour Party to focus its attention on addressing the growing concerns of Abians regarding poor governance, lack of transparency, barefaced corruption, and poor service delivery rather than obsessing over the affairs of the APC.

The people of Abia State are politically conscious and can clearly see through the desperation of a government that appears increasingly uncomfortable with the growing popularity and acceptance of the APC across the state.

The APC remains peaceful, united, and committed to democratic principles. No amount of intimidation, propaganda, sponsored attacks, or state-sponsored crisis will distract us from our mission of returning the seat of government from Nvosi to Umuahia.

Your mission to destabilize the APC has failed, go and seek refund from your paid agents. The APC is intact, stronger, and fully focused on winning the 3 Senatorial Seats, the 8 House of Representatives Positions, the 24 House of Assembly seats, and installing Dr. Eric Opah as governor in 2027.

Signed..

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Demian Igbokwe, has called for renewed grassroots mobilisation in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC candidates ahead of the next general elections.

Speaking during a familiarisation meeting convened at his country home, The Stone House, Ugwuele Road, Uturu, with APC executives from the four political wards in Uturu, Hon. Igbokwe emphasized the need for sustained unity and strategic engagement at the community level to ensure electoral success for the ruling party.

The meeting, which brought together key party stakeholders, focused on strengthening the party’s grassroots structure and reconnecting with the electorate.

Hon. Igbokwe urged ward executives to intensify mobilisation efforts across Uturu, emphasizing that the community must align with the APC to attract increased federal presence and development initiatives. He called for strong support for the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the return of Nkeiruka Onyejeocha to the National Assembly, and appealed to Benjamin Kalu to declare his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election. He noted that such alignment would position Abia State to fully connect with the centre and maximize the benefits of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, past political decisions have contributed to a slowdown in development within the area, noting that Uturu has experienced limited infrastructure growth in recent years.

He recalled that the first asphalted road project in Uturu, aside from the Okigwe–Afikpo highway, was facilitated by an APC representative during the 9th National Assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the immediate past Minister for Labour and Employment, underscoring what he described as the party’s track record in delivering democratic dividends.

Igbokwe argued that sustained support for the APC at both national and legislative levels would enable the community to benefit from ongoing federal government programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He further maintained that the President’s development agenda presents opportunities for communities willing to engage actively with the ruling party, particularly in areas of infrastructure, economic growth, and social investment, to achieve rapid development.

Party executives at the meeting reportedly expressed commitment to the mobilisation drive, pledging to engage residents and expand the party’s support base within the Uturu community.

The engagement is part of broader efforts by APC stakeholders to consolidate grassroots support and strengthen political structures ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

Commending the initiative and commitment to hosting the party, the Uturu APC executives disclosed that “this is the first time a leader has hosted the four Uturu ward executive members,” while pledging their total support and confidence in the APC and in the leadership of Hon. Demian Igbokwe as their leader in Uturu.

The story of Dr. Justice Ujoumunna is not merely one of personal success, but of sustained commitment to the ideals that bind communities together: generosity, compassion, and integrity.

Philanthropy, in its truest form, is not defined by the size of donations but by the depth of intention behind them. Dr. Justice Ujoumunna through his Ikemba Osokwa Foundation has consistently demonstrated that giving is most powerful when it is personal, deliberate, and transformative. Whether through educational support, community development initiatives, or quiet acts of kindness that never make headlines, his approach has always centered on lifting others in ways that preserve dignity and inspire self-reliance. His legacy challenges the increasingly transactional nature of modern charity, reminding us that true philanthropy is rooted in human connection.

Yet, it is perhaps empathy that most distinctly defines his influence. In a society where leadership can often feel distant or disconnected, Ikemba Osokwa’s ability to listen, genuinely and solve community and individual problems without pretense has fostered trust across diverse groups. Empathy, in his case, is not a passive trait but an active force. It informs decisions, shapes interventions, and builds bridges where divisions might otherwise persist. This quality has made him not just a benefactor, but a unifying presence whose impact resonates far beyond material contributions.

Trust, the third pillar of his legacy, is arguably the most difficult to build and the easiest to lose. And yet, Ikemba Osokwa has cultivated it with remarkable consistency. Trust is earned through transparency, reliability, and a steadfast adherence to one’s values even when doing so is inconvenient. Communities that have interacted with him do not merely respect him; they believe in him. That belief is a powerful currency, enabling collective progress and fostering a shared sense of purpose.

At a time when cynicism toward philantropy is widespread, the example set by the Ikemba Osokwa Foundation is both refreshing and instructive. Dr. Ujoumunna's life underscores a simple but often overlooked truth: legacies are not built through grand gestures alone, but through sustained, principled action over time.

As we reflect on his contributions, the question is not just how we celebrate such a legacy, but how we replicate it. What would our communities look like if more individuals across all walks of life embraced philanthropy not as obligation, but as opportunity? If empathy guided not only personal interactions but institutional decisions? If trust became the standard rather than the exception?

Dr Ujoumunna’s story does not end with him; it is an invitation. An invitation to lead with heart, to give with purpose, and to build relationships grounded in trust. In accepting that invitation, we ensure that his legacy is not only remembered, but lived.

Kenneth Ufomba

Writes from Osisioma

At critical moments in the life of a people, leadership choices must rise above sentiment and rest firmly on proven capacity, integrity, and measurable impact. For the people of Abia Central Senatorial District, this moment calls for a leader whose record speaks louder than promises, one whose journey reflects service, resilience, and results. That leader is Rep. Sam Onuigbo.


From humble beginnings in Obuohia Ibere where he once trekked long distances in pursuit of education. Sam Onuigbo’s life story is rooted in lived experience. It is this personal understanding of hardship that has shaped his lifelong commitment to service, captured in the enduring philosophy of "Odoziobodo" (One who lives life of service to community). This is not mere rhetoric; it is a principle that has consistently guided his actions.


His early professional years at the United States Consulate in Lagos, spanning nearly two decades, were instrumental in shaping his worldview. There, he gained invaluable experience in public policy, governance, and international cooperation. Yet, even within that global environment, his heart remained with his community. Through advocacy, he facilitated the construction of classroom blocks at his alma mater and played a key role in attracting the now enduring Ambassador’s College, an institution that continues to serve generations.


Onuigbo’s transition into public office was marked by the same dedication to excellence. As Commissioner for Lands & Survey and later Finance in Abia State, he demonstrated administrative competence and fiscal responsibility. His role as Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Speaker of the House of Representatives further sharpened his legislative acumen.


However, it was during his two terms in the House of Representatives (2015–2023), representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency, that his impact became most visible and far reaching.


His legislative footprint is both bold and historic. Notably, he sponsored a landmark climate-related law that positioned Nigeria prominently on the global sustainability map, an achievement that earned him both national and international recognition. This is not just a legislative milestone; it is a testament to forward-thinking leadership in an era where environmental responsibility is paramount.


Beyond legislation, his record of constituency projects tells a compelling story of development and responsiveness:


1) The rehabilitation and ongoing reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene federal road;

2) Facilitation of the Umuahia–Umudike dualization project with a proposed interchange;

3) Attracting a long-awaited Federal Secretariat to Abia State after decades;

4) Strategic erosion control interventions across multiple communities;

5) Electrification projects that brought relief to underserved areas;

6) Advocacy that contributed to the restoration of academic programs at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.


These are not abstract achievements—they are visible, verifiable, and impactful.


Equally important is his courage in political decision-making. His move from the PDP to the APC in 2020 reflected not opportunism, but foresight and conviction about the direction of progressive politics in Nigeria. Today, that decision aligns him with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a national vision that demands experienced and capable legislators to succeed.


Trust is earned, not assumed. Sam Onuigbo has built that trust through consistency, accessibility, and responsiveness—values he encapsulates in his EAR principle. He has remained connected to his constituents, attentive to their needs, and accountable in his stewardship.


As Abia Central looks toward the 2027 elections, the choice should not be experimental. The Senate requires individuals who are not only articulate but effective; not just present, but impactful; not merely ambitious, but prepared.


In Sam Onuigbo, Abia Central finds a candidate who has been tested and proven—one whose experience is not theoretical, but practical and productive. His vision for inclusive representation, grounded in continuous consultation across wards and local governments, signals a new level of engagement and accountability.


The call is clear: this is the time to invest experience in Renewed Hope. Abia Central cannot afford to gamble on uncertainty when it has before it a candidate with a demonstrated record of excellence.


Sam Onuigbo’s journey has always been about service. His next destination—the Senate—is not a personal ambition, but a continuation of that service at a higher level.


For the people of Abia Central, the path forward is one of confidence, credibility, and continuity. And that path leads to Sam Onuigbo.

Kelvin Amadi
Writes From Umuahia

ABIA APC WILL DELIVER OVER 80% OF ABIA VOTES FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU IN 2027; OTTI SHOULD FOCUS ON HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has been drawn to claims by a member of the Labour Party alleging that Governor Alex Otti will work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

While one might be tempted to welcome and even appreciate such a claim especially coming from a party that has consistently undermined President Tinubu and his party the APC, we are not oblivious of the deceptive tendencies and unreliability that have come to define Gov. Otti's brand of politics. As such, we refuse to be misled by what is clearly a calculated and self-serving narrative.

It is on record that Governor Otti and his party openly rejected the outcome of the 2023 presidential election and even refused to display the official portraits of President Tinubu in government offices and establishments. Furthermore, his supporters and close aides have continued to launch coordinated attacks against Mr. President and his policies on social media. Credible intelligence strongly suggests that these actions are being sponsored and encouraged by Governor Otti's government.

Governor Otti’s recent posture only reinforces the perception of deception. Rather than openly and boldly identifying with President Tinubu, he has chosen to deploy proxies to communicate supposed support. While honest Governors like Charles Soludo of Anambra State, has clearly and publicly declared his support for President Tinubu. Governor Otti has consistently denied President Tinubu due recognition for all the federal government projects he executed in Abia State.

This sudden declaration of support is nothing more than a desperate and deceptive tactic aimed at political survival. It is clear that Governor Otti understands the reality on ground, that his chances of re-election are less than 30% even with all the social media sponsored deception, as the APC in Abia State has gained significant momentum and is poised to take over governance at all levels.

We therefore advise President Tinubu to disregard such misleading overtures. The APC in Abia State possesses the structure, grassroots support, and political strength required to deliver no less than 80–90% of the votes for his re-election in 2027.

Governor Otti should focus on securing a viable political platform for his own re-election bid before making hollow promises to a President whose mandate and second-term prospects are firmly rooted in the support of Nigerians.

Such claims are akin to a drowning man offering help to one standing safely on solid ground.

The APC in Abia State remains strong, united, and influential, with vibrant grassroots structures such as the Renewed Hope Partners, Renewed Hope Ambassadors, City Boys Movement, and Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria. These groups have continued to take the message of the Renewed Hope Agenda to the grassroots, where it has been widely embraced by the people of Abia.

Governor Otti is advised to first secure his own political future, as one who lacks direction cannot lead others.

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State

Otti, LP, Selective Outrage And Political Hypocrisy In Abia: Who Truly Heats The Polity?


By George Maduka


Amid the shifting political dynamics of Abia State, a troubling pattern has emerged. One defined not by principle, but by selective outrage, convenient morality, and brazen hypocrisy. The recent chorus of criticism directed at Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by the Labour Party (LP), Governor Alex Otti, former Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu, and the ever-controversial David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, is not only disingenuous but profoundly revealing.


At the heart of this orchestrated indignation lies a paradox: those who now posture as custodians of peace were conspicuously silent when the polity was truly under threat. This is the essence of hypokrisis. It is this very hypokrisis that defines the current political conduct of Abia’s Labour Party establishment.

Where were these self-appointed defenders of democracy when political actors sponsored vulnerable elderly women to chant death wishes against Senator Kalu? Where was the moral outrage when youths in Ohafia were incited to threaten violence and openly declare intentions to eliminate anyone associated with him? Silence prevailed. Deafening, calculated silence.


Yet, the moment Senator Kalu, widely known for his measured and peaceful disposition reassured his supporters that they would be defended within the bounds of the law, the same voices suddenly found urgency. This is not patriotism; it is opportunism. It is kairos abused; the manipulation of timing for political advantage.


Where were Governor Otti and his allies when serious allegations emerged linking the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, to the humiliation and flogging of a former governor, Uduma Uguru? Till date, no decisive response has been offered to petitions surrounding that incident. The silence is not incidental; it is instructive.


Where were they when a young man from Ohafia publicly cried out, alleging that his life was under threat from powerful political actors? Today, that young man is dead; shot under circumstances that demand urgent and transparent investigation. Yet, no outrage. No press conferences. No moral lectures about “heating the polity.” Such silence speaks louder than any statement—it is aletheia denied, truth suppressed.


Even more disturbing is the apparent normalisation of incendiary rhetoric when it originates from within their own ranks. When Governor Otti told political opponents to “write their will” ahead of 2027, where was the Labour Party’s sudden love for peace? Where was Ude Oko Chukwu’s call for restraint? Where was the caution against inflammatory language?


One must ask: is peace only threatened when Senator Kalu speaks? Or is peace selectively defined to suit political expediency?


There are growing concerns widely whispered across communities in Ohafia and Arochukwu about the regrouping of non-state actors and the circulation of voice notes threatening violence against those who may vote for opposition parties, particularly the APC. If these claims hold even a fraction of truth, then the silence of those in authority is not just hypocrisy, it is complicity.


This is where the concept of dikaiosyne; justice, fairness, moral order–must guide public discourse. A polity cannot thrive where justice is selective, where outrage is partisan, and where truth is sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.


Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has, over time, demonstrated restraint in the face of sustained provocation. His recent remarks, far from being a call to violence, were a reaffirmation of a fundamental democratic principle: that the will of the people must be protected. To twist this into a narrative of incitement is not only intellectually dishonest but politically dangerous.


What Abia needs at this critical juncture is not manufactured outrage, but honest introspection. The Labour Party, already fractured into factions, must resist the temptation to weaponise propaganda as a substitute for governance. Governor Alex Otti must rise above partisan defensiveness and address legitimate concerns about security, political tolerance, and accountability.



In the final analysis, Abians are not deceived. They understand the difference between genuine concern and calculated distraction. They know that peace is not the absence of political disagreement, but the presence of justice, fairness, and truth.


Anything less is theatre.

And Abia deserves better.

George Maduka writes from Abuja.

PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. DEMIAN IGBOKWE, SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MINORITY WHIP OF THE 10TH SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

DATE: 16th, March, 2026

FALSE ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL MISCHIEF AND A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DESTABILIZE PEACE IN UTURU COMMUNITY

My attention has been drawn to a misleading media report titled “Abia Community Raises Alarm Over Alleged Illegal Mining, Names Damian Igbokwe and Others in Petition.”

The publication, which appears to have been orchestrated by the Traditional Ruler of Imobi Autonomous Community and amplified by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is nothing but a desperate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension in Uturu.

Ordinarily, I would ignore such blatant falsehoods. However, the deliberate attempt to drag my name into a matter that has already been investigated and settled by relevant authorities compels me to set the record straight.

A FALSE NARRATIVE BUILT ON MISCHIEF

The allegation that I facilitated or influenced the issuance of a mining license to Limel International Company Nigeria Limited is completely false.

For the avoidance of doubt:

I hold no office within the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development nor within the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, the statutory authority responsible for issuing mining licenses in Nigeria.

The Quarry Lease License referenced in the publication was issued strictly in accordance with federal mining regulations after due processes were followed.

Attempting to drag my name into the matter is therefore a calculated smear campaign designed to intimidate legitimate representatives of the Amanyanwu community, which historically owns the stone land in reference.

HISTORICAL FACTS THEY CANNOT ERASE

The truth remains simple and verifiable.

For more than five decades since 1972, the Nkume Ajaba stone lands in Uturu have been peacefully exploited without conflict.

The Amanyanwu community has always been the recognized ancestral owner of the stone land, exercising its rights through the community’s Town Union leadership.

From time immemorial, the President-General of the Town Union has executed consent agreements on behalf of the land-owning community, long before the Town Union was even registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

This practice has never been in dispute until recently when political actors began attempting to maliciously rewrite history for selfish gains.

GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS CONFIRMED THE TRUTH

When the controversy was artificially escalated through petitions sponsored by the Traditional Ruler and promoted by Hon. Amobi Ogah, the matter was investigated by:

• The Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Abuja

• The Abia State Government

In every instance, the petitioners failed to produce documentary evidence supporting their claims.

In contrast, the Amanyanwu community produced verifiable records and historical documents establishing ownership.

The Abia State Government subsequently constituted a fact-finding committee involving the Ministries of Lands and Justice, the Office of the Deputy Governor and relevant security agencies.

During the field inspection, a traditional verification process was conducted.

In accordance with custom, kola nut was presented to the Amanyanwu community to perform the ritual prayers as the recognized landowners before the inspection began.

Representatives of the villages present were then invited to identify their respective stone lands.

Only the Amanyanwu community could physically identify and stand on the stone sites.

Other communities could not identify any such locations.

This exercise was recorded on video and reviewed by the Abia State Government, leaving no doubt about the ownership of the land.

Based on these findings, the Abia State Government formally ratified the mining agreement between Amanyanwu Community and Limel International Company Nigeria Limited, while warning against actions capable of disturbing public peace.

HOW HON. AMAOBI OGAH CHOSE POLITICS OVER PEACE

Despite the clear findings of government and the existence of documentary evidence, Hon. Amobi Ogah has continued to amplify false narratives and escalate tensions within the community.

Instead of promoting peace and responsible representation, he has:

• Encouraged repeated petitions that have already been dismissed.

• Supported attempts to alter long-established community ownership order.

• Repeated false claims on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Such conduct from a Federal Legislator is deeply troubling.

It is particularly disappointing because Hon. Ogah himself rode into the National Assembly on the political wave of the 2023 Labour Party, Peter Obi movement that swept many previously unknown candidates into office across the country.

Yet ironically, he has publicly attempted to deny the influence of that political momentum in his victory.

More concerning is the fact that his election itself was initially nullified by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal before he eventually secured victory at the Court of Appeal.




Below is a revised and sharper section added into the press statement. I kept the language strong but careful so it does not become legally defamatory while still politically stinging and persuasive.

A PATTERN OF HASTY AND CONTRADICTORY PUBLIC CONDUCT

Unfortunately, the conduct of Hon. Amobi Ogah in this matter fits into a broader pattern that many observers within the constituency have already known him for.

Among our Igbo people, such behaviour is often described as that of a “Jew guy,” someone who constantly pushes himself into matters cluelessly, without adequate understanding, preparation, or due diligence.

Hon. Ogah has repeatedly demonstrated a tendency to prop up issues and legislative ideas without sufficient research or consistency in principle.

A recent example illustrates this clearly.

Hon. Ogah publicly proposed that every public or civil servant in Nigeria should be compelled by law to enroll their children and wards in public schools or face punitive consequences.

While the idea itself was presented as a moral argument about improving public education, it quickly raised questions about its practicality, constitutionality, and sincerity.

Ironically, during the most recent admission cycle at Nile University in Abuja, the same Hon. Amobi Ogah was present at the matriculation ceremony of his daughter who had just been admitted into the private university.

This contradiction did not go unnoticed by many Nigerians who questioned how a lawmaker advocating compulsory public-school enrollment for others would simultaneously choose a private university education for his own child.

Such inconsistencies reinforce the perception that some of his public interventions are driven more by headline-seeking political theatrics than by careful legislative thought or principled leadership.

It is therefore not surprising that the same pattern appears to be playing out in the Uturu mining matter, where unverified claims and politically motivated narratives are being elevated above established facts, documentary evidence, and the findings of competent authorities.

Leadership, particularly in a diverse constituency like Isuikwuato/Umunneochi, demands maturity, restraint, and a commitment to truth rather than agitation.

Unfortunately, what we are witnessing in this case from Hon Amobi Ogah is far below standard of morality and good cis

One would expect such a controversial political trajectory to inspire humility and caution in public conduct.

Instead, what we have witnessed is a pattern of reckless political grandstanding that risks inflaming tensions within his own constituency.

A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT COMMUNITY LEADERS

The latest allegations accusing individuals from Amanyanwu community of forgery, impersonation or misrepresentation are nothing but desperate attempts to discredit legitimate community representatives who executed lawful consent agreements.

These agreements followed the same traditional and administrative procedures that have governed mining activities in the area for decades.

The claims being circulated therefore collapse under the weight of historical facts and government findings.

MY POSITION REMAINS CLEAR

Let it be clearly stated.

I did not influence the mining license.

I did not impersonate any authority.

I did not facilitate any irregular process.

My only connection to this matter is that I am an indigene of Amanyanwu community, which historically owns the stone land.

Beyond that, I have remained focused on my responsibilities in Abuja as Special Adviser to the Minority Whip of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Osita Ngwu.

A WARNING AGAINST POLITICAL INSTIGATION

Uturu has enjoyed decades of peaceful coexistence among its communities.

It would be tragic if that peace is destroyed by political actors attempting to manipulate local issues for personal relevance.

Those attempting to inflame tensions must remember that no political ambition is worth the breakdown of peace in our communities.

CONCLUSION

The attempt to drag my name into this matter is a desperate distraction from the real facts.

Truth, historical evidence, and government investigations have already spoken.

No amount of political propaganda can change them.

I therefore urge the public to disregard the false allegations and politically motivated narratives being circulated.

Peace, justice, and respect for established community rights must prevail.

At this point, the facts are already on record, historical ownership, documentary evidence, investigations by the Mining Cadastre Office, and the final position of the Abia State Government.

No amount of political noise can erase these truths. The people of Uturu deserve peace, development, and responsible leadership, not agitation fueled by misinformation.

I therefore challenge Hon. Amobi Ogah to rise above political theatrics and present verifiable facts rather than inflammatory claims capable of destabilizing his own constituency, where his impact is no where felt in the lives of the people.

If he truly believes in the allegations he has amplified, he should subject them to transparent scrutiny before the appropriate authorities.

Otherwise, the continued propagation of these false claims will only reinforce the growing public perception that this entire controversy is nothing more than a politically motivated attempt to fraudulently manufacture relevance at the expense of peace and truth.

The attention of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a statement credited to Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, in a Labour Party organized event in Isuikwuato, in which he allegedly declared that, despite being a member of the APC, he would support the Labour Party to win the Abia governorship election in 2027.

While the party is not entirely surprised by such reckless and irresponsible remarks, the Abia APC unequivocally dissociates itself and all its members from this unacceptable conduct. The statement credited to Dr. Ogah does not in any way reflect the position, ideals, or aspirations of the APC in Abia State.

For some time, the party had reasons to believe that Dr. Ogah was operating as a mole within our ranks. This informed the decision taken a few days ago to suspend him from all party communication platforms, including official WhatsApp groups and chatrooms.

The APC in Abia today is united, focused, and resolute under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The party is firmly committed to winning elections across the board from the Presidential and National Assembly to the Governorship and State Assembly come 2027. As such, we cannot and will not harbor individuals whose actions undermine the party’s collective goals.

We strongly condemn the irresponsible and unfortunate anti-party posture for which Dr. Ogah appears to have become notorious. Consequently, the party will immediately activate its disciplinary mechanisms to thoroughly investigate the matter and recommend the most appropriate sanctions.

The Abia APC therefore urges all party faithful and the good people of Abia State to disregard this act of political sabotage. Let it be clearly stated that the APC, as presently constituted, will not tolerate moles, saboteurs, or individuals whose only path to political relevance is through acts that weaken the party from within.
The APC remains steadfast, united, and fully prepared to take over the seat of power, restore sanity in governance, and return the Abia State Government House from Nvosi to Umuahia, the state capital.

Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
Abia State APC

By idiosyncratic level of analysis in leadership, David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel possessed some personality traits and perceptual adaptation similar to Abia-born Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. Incidentally, there is a historical significance attached to the names of the two ‘BENs’. While David Ben-Gurion whose original name was David Gruen but was Hebraized with the adoption of the surname of Joseph Ben-Gurion, the Jewish General of 7.0. C.E., known for leading the historic revolt against Rome, the Deputy Speaker’s first name, Benjamin, one of the smallest tribes of Israel, was famous for producing fierce warriors with ambidextrous mastery: artful slingers and skilled archers. The book of Genesis 49:27 gives a short profile of the tribe thus: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Though Benjamin Kalu has not led a trenched warfare like the biblical ‘Benjamites’, his tactful finesse and soft power usually hand over victory to him without fisticuffs.


Interestingly, both Ben-Gurion and Ben Kalu trained as lawyers. Their stardom however, was not attained in the courtroom. They gained prominence through service to humanity. As far back as 1906, Ben-Gurion looked homeward and returned from Poland. He was among the early settlers at Yishuv, a Jewish residential territory in Palestine governed by the Ottoman Empire. He pioneered the establishment of a farming community in Petach-Tikva, a sprawling town close to Tel-Aviv. He also led the Zionist movement that worked out the mass return of the Jews from around the world, immediately after the State of Israel was created in 1948. And as the first national entrepreneur, the Jewish returnees looked up to him and resolved to conquer their security pathogens and environmental handicaps.


The young Ben Kalu’s election to the lower chamber of Nigeria’s legislature for the first time in 2019 became a springboard. Although relatively new in the nation’s political firmament, yet his political sagacity gave him a competitive edge and stood him out. He exceeded expectations in his capacity as the 9th House of Representatives spokesperson. The former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had this to say about him: “He is a chairman who continues to think outside the box and who is taking this media committee to a towering height like never before in the national assembly.” As the Deputy Speaker, he has brought uncommon visibility to the office. The country is projected proudly in the comity of nations; the Southeast geo-political zone feels his integrative capacity like a melting-pot; the shoulders of Abians are high that a Daniel has come to judgment; just as his legislative strides festoon the already feathered cap of his Bende Federal Constituency.

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For the physical survival of his people surrounded by hostile neighbours, Ben-Gurion was at different times the Defense Minister of the State of Israel. He stepped into the big shoes of his role model and harped on the urgency of building up their strengths “in every area and on all fronts.” On the other hand, Ben Kalu’s front-row position in the political hierarchy of the nation is used to reposition Ndigbo in the mainstream of the national political economy. He understands the feelings of exclusion at home and he works to assuage the real and imaginary pains. Through his respected voice, legislative craftmanship, and unfettered access to the policy arena, the cause of his people is always on the table, and not the menu. Like Gurion, Kalu is a rallying point to the ancient and modern political class in Abia State. He dignifiedly leads from the front with little or no ruffling of feathers.

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In terms of human security, Ben-Gurion’s passion for changing the fortunes of his people was exceptional. Water scarcity was a direct threat to food production and agribusiness in Israel. But against capture by experts, he insisted and tackled the challenge of semi-arid areas by building and extending water pipes from the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the country to the highly populated Negev Desert in the south, a distance of about 250 kilometers. Hence, 80% of the water was channeled to agriculture while 20% was for drinking.


For Ben Kalu, the hangover of the Nigerian civil war which ended over five decades ago, remained an emotive issue among every full-blooded Igbo. Forget political correctness! But like an idea whose time had come, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill sponsored by him received legislative passage and presidential assent with minimal red tape. Consequently, SEDC, as a federal interventionist agency came on stream to address the scorched-earth drawbacks of the unfortunate war. Taken from the prism of operational balance, Ben-Gurion’s membership of the Knesset (Israel’s unicameral legislature) and Ben Kalu’s status as an astute parliamentarian have helped in reaching the critical mass for both countries.

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Notably, Ben-Gurion was a shrewd talent-spotter. As a farmer who nursed the vision of making Israel an agricultural powerhouse, he made sure that half of his cabinet was made up of farmers. Even the third and fifth prime ministers had more than passing interest in agriculture. Either by bedroom whispers or an extempore public assessment, no objective mind would accuse Ben Kalu of not having a knack for lifting up others. He does not suffer from the phobia of insecurity. Neither has he undermined others to remain a superstar. Rather, he willingly positions people rightly. What he did with the SEDC appointments reflects his fair-mindedness and respect for inclusivity. Of course, there is power in a name. Okezie means: a fair distributor of collective resource.

Without equivocation, Ben Kalu is full of steeze as a born leader. He commands a stylish confidence in speech, carriage, networking, and consensus-building. This piece is not about what may or may not be his ambition, but about highlighting worthy lessons on how to become a statesman. Today, Ben-Gurion is revered as the “Father of Israeli Nation” because of how he helped to shape the country from its embryonic stage.

Written by:

Jasper Uche

By idiosyncratic level of analysis in leadership, David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel possessed some personality traits and perceptual adaptation similar to Abia-born Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. Incidentally, there is a historical significance attached to the names of the two ‘BENs’. While David Ben-Gurion whose original name was David Gruen but was Hebraized with the adoption of the surname of Joseph Ben-Gurion, the Jewish General of 7.0. C.E., known for leading the historic revolt against Rome, the Deputy Speaker’s first name, Benjamin, one of the smallest tribes of Israel, was famous for producing fierce warriors with ambidextrous mastery: artful slingers and skilled archers. The book of Genesis 49:27 gives a short profile of the tribe thus: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Though Benjamin Kalu has not led a trenched warfare like the biblical ‘Benjamites’, his tactful finesse and soft power usually hand over victory to him without fisticuffs.


Interestingly, both Ben-Gurion and Ben Kalu trained as lawyers. Their stardom however, was not attained in the courtroom. They gained prominence through service to humanity. As far back as 1906, Ben-Gurion looked homeward and returned from Poland. He was among the early settlers at Yishuv, a Jewish residential territory in Palestine governed by the Ottoman Empire. He pioneered the establishment of a farming community in Petach-Tikva, a sprawling town close to Tel-Aviv. He also led the Zionist movement that worked out the mass return of the Jews from around the world, immediately after the State of Israel was created in 1948. And as the first national entrepreneur, the Jewish returnees looked up to him and resolved to conquer their security pathogens and environmental handicaps.


The young Ben Kalu’s election to the lower chamber of Nigeria’s legislature for the first time in 2019 became a springboard. Although relatively new in the nation’s political firmament, yet his political sagacity gave him a competitive edge and stood him out. He exceeded expectations in his capacity as the 9th House of Representatives spokesperson. The former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had this to say about him: “He is a chairman who continues to think outside the box and who is taking this media committee to a towering height like never before in the national assembly.” As the Deputy Speaker, he has brought uncommon visibility to the office. The country is projected proudly in the comity of nations; the Southeast geo-political zone feels his integrative capacity like a melting-pot; the shoulders of Abians are high that a Daniel has come to judgment; just as his legislative strides festoon the already feathered cap of his Bende Federal Constituency.

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For the physical survival of his people surrounded by hostile neighbours, Ben-Gurion was at different times the Defense Minister of the State of Israel. He stepped into the big shoes of his role model and harped on the urgency of building up their strengths “in every area and on all fronts.” On the other hand, Ben Kalu’s front-row position in the political hierarchy of the nation is used to reposition Ndigbo in the mainstream of the national political economy. He understands the feelings of exclusion at home and he works to assuage the real and imaginary pains. Through his respected voice, legislative craftmanship, and unfettered access to the policy arena, the cause of his people is always on the table, and not the menu. Like Gurion, Kalu is a rallying point to the ancient and modern political class in Abia State. He dignifiedly leads from the front with little or no ruffling of feathers.

Discover more
News subscription
Cultural experiences Nigeria
Nigeria news updates
Local artisan crafts
Award Ceremony Tickets
In terms of human security, Ben-Gurion’s passion for changing the fortunes of his people was exceptional. Water scarcity was a direct threat to food production and agribusiness in Israel. But against capture by experts, he insisted and tackled the challenge of semi-arid areas by building and extending water pipes from the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the country to the highly populated Negev Desert in the south, a distance of about 250 kilometers. Hence, 80% of the water was channeled to agriculture while 20% was for drinking.


For Ben Kalu, the hangover of the Nigerian civil war which ended over five decades ago, remained an emotive issue among every full-blooded Igbo. Forget political correctness! But like an idea whose time had come, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill sponsored by him received legislative passage and presidential assent with minimal red tape. Consequently, SEDC, as a federal interventionist agency came on stream to address the scorched-earth drawbacks of the unfortunate war. Taken from the prism of operational balance, Ben-Gurion’s membership of the Knesset (Israel’s unicameral legislature) and Ben Kalu’s status as an astute parliamentarian have helped in reaching the critical mass for both countries.

Discover more
Political commentary forum
Gambling information service
Fair and White beauty products
Regional news updates
Newspaper subscription service
Notably, Ben-Gurion was a shrewd talent-spotter. As a farmer who nursed the vision of making Israel an agricultural powerhouse, he made sure that half of his cabinet was made up of farmers. Even the third and fifth prime ministers had more than passing interest in agriculture. Either by bedroom whispers or an extempore public assessment, no objective mind would accuse Ben Kalu of not having a knack for lifting up others. He does not suffer from the phobia of insecurity. Neither has he undermined others to remain a superstar. Rather, he willingly positions people rightly. What he did with the SEDC appointments reflects his fair-mindedness and respect for inclusivity. Of course, there is power in a name. Okezie means: a fair distributor of collective resource.

Without equivocation, Ben Kalu is full of steeze as a born leader. He commands a stylish confidence in speech, carriage, networking, and consensus-building. This piece is not about what may or may not be his ambition, but about highlighting worthy lessons on how to become a statesman. Today, Ben-Gurion is revered as the “Father of Israeli Nation” because of how he helped to shape the country from its embryonic stage.

Written by:

Jasper Uche

When characters like Osita Offor open their mouths in public to cast aspersions on a personality no less than the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, those of us who know the antecedents of this hypocritical character and stomach-driven sycophant cannot but shudder at the audacity.

While I do not intend to dwell too much on, or give Offor the attention he hardly deserves, one may be tempted to ask whether he has only recently recovered from political amnesia. How else does one explain his sudden claim that a house he has visited repeatedly, praised and admired has suddenly become an obstruction to road construction?

Permit me to remind you, in case you have forgotten, that it is the same house you visited several times seeking mentorship and assistance from Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

I do not entirely blame you, because your only known means of livelihood appears to be sycophancy and praise singing. However, it is important to remind you that the ongoing Umuahia–Bende–Ohafia Road project was attracted by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu during the 9th Assembly at the cost of ₦12 billion. The project is still ongoing. Contractors began the rehabilitation and construction of the Umuahia–Bende–Ohafia Road (Lot 2) from the Ohafia end, while palliative works were carried out along the entire stretch from Umuahia through Bende to ensure the road remained passable pending full reconstruction.

Let me also inform you that it was the relentless efforts and pressure mounted by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu on the then Minister of Works, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola that the road got FEC approval, the then minister for mines Dr. Uche Ogah is alive and will attest to this, it is also worthy of note that it was that road that earned Ben Kalu, the revered traditional title of Kpakpando Ohafia by the Udumeze.

While I understand that you may have been commissioned to insult a man whose shoes you are not qualified to lace simply because Governor Otti handed you a small job in Aba, it would be wiser to channel the proceeds of that job toward settling the debts you owe South Africa based heavyweight wrestler, Chukwuma Okoye, popularly known as Kilimanjaro, and others.

Take this advice from a brother who knows and genuinely cares.

A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

if indeed you are one.

Chief Daniel Akwari
(Osu Uzo Item)

Hon. Chijioke Chukwu is a Nigerian politician, administrator, and development advocate from Ndieke Isieke Amaba, Ugwueke in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. He was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Chukwu Eke, where he began a life shaped by discipline, community values, and a strong commitment to public service.

He started his early education at Community Primary School, Amaba Ugwueke, after which he attended Ugwueke Secondary School and later Igbere Secondary School, where he obtained his Junior and Senior Secondary School Certificates respectively.

Driven by a passion for academic excellence and professional growth, Hon. Chukwu proceeded to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc Hons.) degree in Applied Biochemistry. He further advanced his studies at the University of Nigeria, obtaining both a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and a Master’s Degree (M.Sc) in Business Management. Demonstrating a continued commitment to scholarship and leadership development, he is currently pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Hon. Chijioke Chukwu ventured into active politics and public service with a strong desire to contribute to the development of his constituency and the state at large. In 2019, he was elected as a Member of the Abia State House of Assembly, where he served with distinction and contributed to legislative activities through participation in various committees.

During his tenure in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, he rose to the position of Minority Leader, a role in which he demonstrated leadership, legislative competence, and commitment to democratic governance.

Beyond the state legislature, Hon. Chukwu also served at the federal level as Special Assistant on Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he helped strengthen collaboration between different tiers of government.

In recognition of his experience, leadership qualities, and dedication to national development, he was nominated and confirmed by the Senate as the South-East Representative on the Board of the North West Development Commission.

Aside from his political and professional achievements, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu is also a respected traditional title holder. He holds the prestigious title of “Ikeoha Umunna,” reflecting his standing as a dependable pillar and defender of his people within his community.

Through his career in public service, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu has continued to demonstrate commitment to leadership, community development, legislative service, and national integration.

Otti's Government and the Politics of Land Grabbing And Audio Compensation

By Uche Aguoru

A close look at the last quarter of 2025 shows that a staggering ₦23 billion was written off by the Abia State Government under the sub-head Lands and Housing.

In that same year, during a civic reception held in his honour at Isiala Ngwa, Governor Alex Otti publicly declared: “We have paid all the people whose lands were acquired for the airport project to the last kobo.”

Yet, just last week, while reacting to a poser on the complaints from Nsulu land owners affected by the same airport project, the Governor stated: “Every verified landowner will be paid.”

These two statements cannot coexist without raising serious questions. If everyone had already been paid “to the last kobo,” why is there now a fresh assurance that verified landowners will be paid?

These are glaring contradictions and inconsistencies that has always defined the Otti administration.

Why has the Abia State Government failed to publish a comprehensive list of beneficiaries, the amounts paid, dates of payment, and the specific parcels of land acquired? Why is it so difficult to provide documentary evidence for a transaction that reportedly consumed ₦23 billion within just three months?

Even more concerning is the fact that ₦15 billion had already been written off in 2024 for compensation payments. Yet, communities in Owazza, Ukwa West, continue to protest non-payment two years after their lands were acquired.

Transparency and accountability in governance is not optional, billions of taxpayers funds are involved, they demand accountability, transparency and verifiable data.

It is deeply troubling that the Otti administration has spent ₦38 Billion in two years for compensation and still no clarity and land owners are still protesting over none payment.

Gov. Otti can you provide data of those who were really paid, Abians are not asking for too much. They are simply asking for the truth.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Otti's Government and the Politics of Land Grabbing And Audio Compensation

By Uche Aguoru

A close look at the last quarter of 2025 shows that a staggering ₦23 billion was written off by the Abia State Government under the sub-head Lands and Housing.

In that same year, during a civic reception held in his honour at Isiala Ngwa, Governor Alex Otti publicly declared: “We have paid all the people whose lands were acquired for the airport project to the last kobo.”

Yet, just last week, while reacting to a poser on the complaints from Nsulu land owners affected by the same airport project, the Governor stated: “Every verified landowner will be paid.”

These two statements cannot coexist without raising serious questions. If everyone had already been paid “to the last kobo,” why is there now a fresh assurance that verified landowners will be paid?

These are glaring contradictions and inconsistencies that has always defined the Otti administration.

Why has the Abia State Government failed to publish a comprehensive list of beneficiaries, the amounts paid, dates of payment, and the specific parcels of land acquired? Why is it so difficult to provide documentary evidence for a transaction that reportedly consumed ₦23 billion within just three months?

Even more concerning is the fact that ₦15 billion had already been written off in 2024 for compensation payments. Yet, communities in Owazza, Ukwa West, continue to protest non-payment two years after their lands were acquired.

Transparency and accountability in governance is not optional, billions of taxpayers funds are involved, they demand accountability, transparency and verifiable data.

It is deeply troubling that the Otti administration has spent ₦38 Billion in two years for compensation and still no clarity and land owners are still protesting over none payment.

Gov. Otti can you provide data of those who were really paid, Abians are not asking for too much. They are simply asking for the truth.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Former Chairman of the APC in Umuahia North and CEO of SLOAK Paints Ltd, Chief Sam Akagu, has congratulated all party members who emerged as Ward and LGA Executives in the just-concluded APC Congress in Umuahia North.

Chief Akagu described the congress as peaceful, well-organized, and a clear demonstration of the renewed unity within the party. He commended party faithful for their maturity, discipline, and commitment to strengthening the APC at the grassroots.

He particularly thanked the leaders of the party for their collective and individual sacrifices in ensuring the unity presently enjoyed in Umuahia North, a feat he noted had eluded the party since its formation in the state. According to him, the spirit of compromise, understanding, and genuine reconciliation among stakeholders made the success of the congress possible.

Chief Akagu expressed profound appreciation to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his resilience, steadfastness, and sincere efforts toward fostering unity within the party and ensuring the smooth conduct of the congresses across the state. He noted that true leadership is tested in moments of division, and the Deputy Speaker rose to the occasion.

He also acknowledged the immense contributions of party leaders in Umuahia North, including Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, Chief Charles Ogbonna, and other stakeholders who made personal sacrifices to ensure that the party speaks with one voice.

Furthermore, he extended special recognition to His Excellency Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha,Hon.Emeka Atuma, Sen. Adighije, Chief Henry Ikoh, and other leaders whose commitment and support helped reposition the APC as a united and formidable political force.

Chief Akagu urged the newly elected executives to remain focused, inclusive, and committed to consolidating the gains of unity, emphasizing that a strong grassroots structure remains the foundation for future electoral success.

He concluded by stating that with the current level of cooperation and renewed harmony, Abia APC is poised for greater victories ahead.

The CEO of Constance Energy Group, H/Chief Ikenna Okafor, has sent a deeply emotional and heartfelt message to his beloved wife, Chief Mrs. Suzzy Chinemerem Okafor, as she marks another beautiful year of life.

In the touching message delivered on behalf of the family, Chief Okafor described his wife as a God-fearing, virtuous woman and a wonderful mother whose love, patience, and unwavering care have kept the family peaceful, united, and happy.

Chief Okafor Wrote...

Dear Heavenly Father,

"Thank you for my greatest gift - my beautiful and amazing wife Sneaks Baby. The woman who has made my life meaningful with love and laughter."

"Hevenly father For forty beautiful years now, you have preserved her, strengthened her, and made her a blessing to everyone around her but more especially to me"

"As she enters this new stage of her life, Lord, please continue to shield her with favor, peace and good health. Let joy dance in her heart, let grace rest upon her head, and let every dream she carries begin to bloom.

Renew her strength, protect her always, and let her days be gentle and bright"

He prayed God to Bless their marriage, "deepen our bond, and let our love grow sweeter with every year. May her life overflow with purpose, beauty, and fulfillment"

"My dear Sneaks, the best days of your life are not behind you, they are just beginning in Jesus name, Amen"

He expressed profound gratitude, saying, “Under your care, our house has truly become a home, warm, loving, and filled with joy.”

“On behalf of our children and the entire Okafor family, I wish you a wonderful birthday filled with love, laughter, and the fulfillment of your heart’s desires. You are the light of our home, the strength of our family, and the greatest blessing in our lives.

Happy Birthday, my love.”

H/ Chief Ikenna Okafor

Chairman Constance Group

The recently concluded APC E-registration exercise has firmly established the All Progressives Congress, "a party once despised by Abians", as the fastest-growing and most formidable political force in Abia State today.

Across the 17 Local Government Areas and over 184 wards, the surge in membership has revealed a clear and undeniable reality, Abians are increasingly embracing the APC at the grassroots, and much of this transformation is credited to the strategic leadership and tireless commitment of the indefatigable and charismatic Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Not long ago, few would have imagined that a party once rejected and dismissed by many would rise to become the dominant political platform in the state. Yet, through persistence, vision, and purposeful engagement, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has successfully repositioned the APC, turning skepticism into acceptance and indifference into mass support.

From polling units to wards, and from wards to LGAs, Benjamin Kalu worked quietly but methodically, building structures, strengthening party unity, mobilizing grassroots support, and fostering inclusiveness among stakeholders.

His ability to connect directly with the people, understand their aspirations, and provide purposeful leadership has significantly reshaped the political landscape of Abia State.

Through effective organization, strategic planning, investments, and consistent grassroots presence, he has transformed the APC into a vibrant, people-driven movement. By promoting the ideals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and taking the message to the doorsteps of ordinary citizens, he has made the party more attractive, accessible, and widely accepted.

Today, the APC stands not just as a strong opposition, but as the party to beat in any electoral contest in Abia State. Its growing membership, expanding grassroots network, and renewed public confidence position it as the leading political force in the state.


Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s passion, resilience, and visionary leadership have laid a solid foundation for the party’s continued rise. As the momentum builds and the structure strengthens.

There is now a growing consensus across Abia state that the true reward for this commitment and hard work will come to realization in 2027.

Uche Aguoru

Is A Public Affairs Analyst

In furtherance of his strategic political realignment and sustained efforts to strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, Chief Moritz Abazie (Ebube Ohuhu) at the weekend convened a high-level meeting with APC leaders spanning ward and local government structures in Umuahia North.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Abazie reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to building a united, disciplined, and results-driven party structure, assuring leaders that every necessary effort will be deployed to secure decisive APC victories across all polling units in Umuahia North in 2027.

The well-attended meeting marked the formal unification of APC and former PDP structures in Ohuhu, bringing together serving APC executives alongside former PDP leaders who have now aligned with the APC. This consolidation significantly strengthens the party’s cohesion, grassroots reach, and electoral capacity within the area.

Commending party leaders for the successful E-registration exercise, Chief Abazie emphasized the importance of loyalty, coordination, and sustained grassroots mobilisation, urging all stakeholders to remain focused and united in pursuit of the shared objective of delivering Umuahia North for the APC.

With the movement gaining momentum and the structure growing stronger, the pathway to 2027 is becoming increasingly clear.