Former Abia Governors Move to Build Opposition Bloc Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Abia Governors Move to Build Opposition Bloc Ahead of 2027 Elections

Kingsley Ohens reporting for Urbanscoopnews

Umuahia, Nigeria
In a development that could reshape Abia State’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, two former governors—Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji—on Friday convened a strategic meeting in Umuahia aimed at mobilising political forces to challenge the incumbent administration of Governor Alex Otti.

The meeting brought together a cross-section of influential political actors who held elective and appointive offices in Abia State between 2009 and 2023. The central objective, according to participants, was to forge a united platform capable of reclaiming political relevance and mounting a formidable challenge to the current Labour Party–led government.

Addressing the gathering, Senator Kalu, who represents Abia North in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the meeting as a convergence of experienced leaders determined not to be sidelined in the state’s evolving political equation. He proposed the expansion of the emerging coalition—informally referred to as “The Team”—to include all former political office holders from the period under review.

“Our collective experience and contributions to Abia State cannot simply be wished away,” Kalu said. “This platform is about coming together, recognising what we have done, and positioning ourselves for the future.”

Kalu also pushed back against persistent narratives that depict previous administrations in the state as failures. Framing governance as a continuum rather than a series of isolated tenures, he likened leadership transitions to a relay race.
“Leadership is a relay,” he stated. “I handed over to Senator T.A. Orji, who handed over to Okezie Ikpeazu. No single individual can claim we achieved nothing. If we did nothing, where would our people be today?”

According to Kalu, the coalition’s ultimate goal is clear: to effect a change of government in Abia State in 2027. He stressed that the platform is not restricted by party boundaries and remains open to alliances with individuals and groups across the political spectrum who share a common objective.

The Umuahia meeting underscores a sharpening of political rivalries in Abia, where Governor Otti has faced increasing opposition from entrenched political interests, particularly figures aligned with the APC and allied blocs. Kalu has on several occasions publicly expressed his determination to see Abia delivered to the APC in the next electoral cycle, a stance that has heightened tensions between him and the current administration.

While it remains early in the electoral timeline, Friday’s gathering signals the beginning of more coordinated political manoeuvring by former power brokers seeking a return to prominence. As preparations for 2027 gather momentum, Abia State appears set for an intense contest marked by shifting alliances, revived political networks, and a renewed struggle for control of the state’s political future.