The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has reportedly stepped away from the race for the 2027 Abia State governorship election and returned his focus to the House of Representatives contest for Bende Federal Constituency.
Rt. Hon. Kalu, who had repeatedly expressed confidence in challenging and defeating incumbent Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in the 2027 gubernatorial election, appeared before the APC Screening Committee for the House of Representatives primaries earlier yesterday.
The unexpected political move has sparked widespread reactions across Abia State political circles, with many observers interpreting the decision as a major shift in the Deputy Speaker’s political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Supporters and stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are said to be divided over the development, as discussions continue over the implications of Kalu’s withdrawal from the governorship ambition.
Political analysts believe the Deputy Speaker’s return to the National Assembly race could reshape the political calculations within the APC in Abia State, especially in Bende Federal Constituency where he remains a dominant political figure.
More details are expected to emerge as consultations and party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue.
