NEWS
APC CONFUSION IN ABIA AS BENJAMIN KALU’S ALLEGED RETURN TO REPS RACE SPARKS SHOCKWAVES, SUPPORTERS FEEL BETRAYED AFTER MONTHS OF GOVERNORSHIP HYPE
…as Questions Mount Over Millions Spent on Nomination Forms by APC Power Brokers
By @TheKELVINATOR, The Eyes Opener News | May 07, 2026
Fresh political developments within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have reportedly thrown the party’s camp into uncertainty and quiet panic, following strong indications that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, may be preparing to return to the House of Representatives race instead of pursuing the much-publicised governorship ambition that had dominated political conversations across the state.
The unfolding development is already generating intense reactions within APC circles, especially among party loyalists and supporters who had aggressively promoted Benjamin Kalu as the party’s strongest governorship hopeful ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For months, the political atmosphere in Abia APC had been charged with loud optimism, strategic mobilisations, consultations and media campaigns projecting Kalu as the face of the party’s rescue mission in the state. Supporters had flooded social media and political gatherings with declarations that the Deputy Speaker was set to lead the APC into what they described as a historic governorship battle.
Several APC stakeholders and loyalists reportedly invested enormous political capital and resources into building that narrative, with many believing that Benjamin Kalu’s national visibility and current position as Deputy Speaker would automatically strengthen the party’s chances in Abia.
But emerging indications suggesting that Kalu may instead submit nomination forms for another House of Representatives contest have now left many supporters confused and politically stranded.
The development is also raising uncomfortable questions within the party over the fate of the expensive expression of interest and nomination forms allegedly purchased by APC stalwarts and loyalists who had championed his governorship ambition with great confidence.
Political observers are now asking whether those forms, purchased amid heavy fanfare and political excitement, will simply end up in the trash bin after months of public mobilisation and strategic propaganda aimed at convincing Abians that the Deputy Speaker was fully prepared for the governorship contest.
Within sections of the APC, there are already murmurs that the sudden shift may expose deep uncertainties surrounding the party’s actual strength and preparedness for the 2027 governorship election in Abia State.
Analysts argue that if the Deputy Speaker eventually settles for another return to the Green Chamber, it could be interpreted by many as a silent admission that the governorship path may not be politically favourable at this time.
The situation has become even more dramatic with the latest move by Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi, the lawmaker representing Bende South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, who has now picked nomination forms to seek a third term in the Assembly.
Interestingly, the development comes barely weeks after Ndubuisi publicly declared his interest in contesting for the House of Representatives seat under the APC platform for Bende Federal Constituency, a declaration that had initially fuelled speculations that Benjamin Kalu was truly preparing to vacate the federal legislative seat in pursuit of the governorship race.
However, Ndubuisi’s sudden return to the Abia Assembly contest is now being interpreted in many political quarters as another strong indication that Benjamin Kalu may have reconsidered his political calculations and opted to retain his grip on the House of Representatives seat instead.
The latest twist has further intensified political discussions across Abia State, with many observers insisting that the APC must urgently clarify its direction to avoid deepening confusion among party faithful ahead of the 2027 political season.
As uncertainty continues to surround Benjamin Kalu’s next political move, supporters who once celebrated the possibility of an APC governorship takeover are now left wondering whether the grand governorship dream was ever realistic from the beginning or merely another overhyped political project destined to collapse under the weight of reality.