NEWS
EXPLOSIVE POWER STRUGGLE ROCKS ABIA APC AS BEN KALU, ORJI KALU TRADE CLAIMS OVER CONTROL AS PARTY DESCENDS INTO CONFUSION
A fresh and intensifying leadership crisis has erupted within the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), throwing the party into confusion and exposing a deepening power tussle between two of its most influential figures — Benjamin Kalu and Orji Uzor Kalu.
What was expected to be a moment of strategic alignment following engagements with Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instead spiraled into a public contest for supremacy, with both camps issuing statements that suggest parallel chains of command in Abia APC.
At the heart of the crisis are conflicting interpretations of the President’s directive on who controls party affairs in the state , a development that insiders say has unsettled party stakeholders and triggered quiet panic ahead of the 2027 political permutations.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in a strongly worded message, declared that the President had clearly assigned him oversight of APC affairs in Abia State as the highest-ranking political office holder from the state. He emphasized that this model, which places party coordination in the hands of top-ranking office holders, has already been tested and proven successful across ward, local government, and state congresses.
Kalu projected confidence, insisting that the APC in Abia has never been more united and is fully prepared to deliver overwhelming electoral victories. His statement painted a picture of stability and cohesion, a party firmly under his strategic leadership and marching toward 2027 with clarity of purpose.
However, that narrative was swiftly countered by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, whose response has now thrown the party into a full-blown leadership dilemma.
In a parallel declaration, the former Abia governor and now Senator representing Abia North revealed that he had received a “marching order” from the same President to coordinate APC activities in Abia State. Positioning himself as the most senior political figure from the state, Orji Kalu asserted his authority to lead stakeholder engagements and oversee the emergence of candidates for future elections.
His statement underscored a commitment to uniting the party and delivering victory for President Tinubu’s re-election, but in doing so, it directly contradicted the claims made by the Deputy Speaker, effectively creating two power centers within the same party structure.
The dual claims have since ignited confusion among party members, with stakeholders now left grappling with a critical question: who truly holds the reins of APC in Abia?
Political observers describe the situation as a classic case of “authority collision,” where overlapping mandates, whether real or perceived are now threatening party unity. Behind the scenes, loyalists of both camps are said to be mobilizing, further deepening divisions within the party.
The development is particularly troubling for a party that has struggled to gain firm footing in Abia State in recent years. Rather than consolidating its base, the APC now finds itself battling internal discord at a time when strategic cohesion is crucial.
Analysts warn that if the crisis is not urgently addressed, it could weaken the party’s chances in future elections and embolden opposition forces who are closely monitoring the unfolding drama.
For now, what should have been a unified front under the leadership of President Tinubu has instead exposed cracks at the very top, turning Abia APC into a theatre of political rivalry, uncertainty, and high-stakes power play.
As the dust continues to rise, one thing is clear: beneath the public declarations of loyalty and unity lies a fierce contest for control and until that battle is settled, the Abia APC may remain trapped in a cycle of confusion and internal strife.