Abia 2027: Group warns APC against sanctioning Kalu

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — An Abia socio-political group, Reality Organisation, has criticised the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its threat to sanction former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, over alleged anti-party activities.

The group described the allegation as politically motivated, warning that moves to discipline the former governor could deepen divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by its representative, Dimgba Okereke, Reality Organisation said Kalu did not endorse Governor Alex Otti or the Labour Party in the television interview cited by the Abia APC leadership.

The group was reacting to a communiqué issued on Monday by the Abia APC State Working Committee, which condemned comments attributed to Kalu and Hon. Chris Nkwota and demanded public apologies over alleged anti-party conduct.

According to the organisation, Kalu was asked whether President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election and answered in the affirmative. It said he was also asked whether Governor Otti would win the Abia governorship election and similarly responded in the affirmative.

The group, however, noted that when Kalu was asked whether the APC had an alliance with Otti, his response was an unequivocal no.

“Where, therefore, is the endorsement? Is a prediction now synonymous with an endorsement? Has political analysis suddenly become anti-party activity?” the group queried.

Reality Organisation said there was a fundamental difference between making a political assessment and endorsing a candidate, arguing that Kalu’s comments amounted to an assessment of the prevailing political circumstances rather than an expression of support for the Labour Party.

It said: “A prediction is an assessment of what one believes may happen; an endorsement is an expression of support for a candidate or cause. Conflating the two is either intellectual laziness or a deliberate attempt to mislead members of the party and the public.”

The organisation urged the Abia APC leadership to use Kalu’s assessment as an opportunity for introspection rather than threatening him with disciplinary action.

“If the leadership of the APC in Abia State were genuinely serious about winning the 2027 governorship election, Senator Kalu’s answers should have provided an opportunity for sober self-reflection.

“Rather than reaching for threats and disciplinary proceedings, they should be asking themselves what shortcomings within the party could produce such a prediction and what must be done to change the political equation before 2027,” it said.

The group also accused the state APC leadership of applying different standards to political actors, alleging that similar predictions about Kalu in the past did not attract the same level of condemnation.

It cited an article reportedly published shortly before the National Assembly primaries which predicted political challenges for Kalu, asking why those who were now demanding sanctions did not react with similar intensity at the time.

“Where were Chijioke Chukwu and his colleagues then? What was their reaction? Where was the communiqué? Where was the righteous indignation?” the group asked.

Reality Organisation said what it described as selective condemnation could further deepen divisions within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

It also rejected what it described as attempts by individuals or factions to monopolise the affairs of the APC in Abia State, stressing that the party belonged to all its members.

The group said: “Benjamin Kalu does not own it. Chijioke Chukwu does not own it. Neither does any collection of political cronies have the authority to convert a national political party into a private estate where disagreement is punished and independent thought is treated as rebellion.”

The organisation warned that continued exclusion and intimidation of party members could trigger another organisational crisis within the Abia APC.

It said genuine party members would not remain silent if what it described as segregation, intimidation and impunity continued.

“If this culture of segregation, intimidation, high-handedness and impunity continues, then, by the grace of God, genuine and patriotic members of the Abia APC will have no alternative but to unveil a dedicated State Working Committee to run the affairs of the party and provide the inclusive leadership that members across Abia State deserve,” it said.

The group maintained that the ultimate test of political strength should be the ballot box rather than disciplinary threats.

It challenged the Abia APC leadership to reconcile aggrieved members, end perceived segregation, produce a credible candidate and mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 election.

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s prediction should provoke introspection, not persecution. If the Abia APC disagrees with his assessment, the answer is simple: organise the party, reconcile aggrieved members, end segregation, present a credible candidate, mobilise Abians and prove the prediction wrong at the ballot box.

“That is democracy. Threats, selective disciplinary proceedings and political grandstanding will not win an election,” the organisation said.

Reality Organisation urged APC stakeholders in Abia to prioritise reconciliation, inclusiveness and collective mobilisation, warning that internal disputes involving prominent members could weaken the party ahead of 2027.

It concluded with a warning to those allegedly seeking to monopolise the party’s affairs: “Enough is enough.”

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