Former Abia State Chief of Staff, Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu (KSJI), has thrown his hat back into the political ring, declaring his interest to contest the 2027 Abia governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The declaration, which took place on Saturday at the Abia Progressive Forum (APF) Secretariat in Umuahia, attracted massive crowds of supporters, party leaders, and youth groups drawn from the Reality Organization, the OUK Movement, and the Abia Progressives Forum.
Addressing the jubilant crowd, Kalu declared:
“Today, I stand in front of all of you and declare my intention to contest for the Abia State governorship ticket under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2027 elections.
“My mission is simple and straightforward: to unify Abians and build a prosperous and all-inclusive state where opportunities abound for everyone, regardless of political affiliation or social standing.”
The former Abia Chief of Staff, who ran for the same office in 2023 on the platform of the Action Peoples Party (APP) before returning to the APC, said his decision was driven by the burning desire to create an all-inclusive and empathetic leadership that feels the pulse of every Abian.
“Our journey is not about politics as usual; it is a call to serve and restore empathy to leadership. We want to create a leadership that feels the pulse of the people, listens, acts, and gives every Abian, regardless of political affiliation or standing, a reason to once again believe in the promise of our beloved state.”
In his assessment of the incumbent Governor Alex Otti’s administration, Kalu, who acknowledged that some progress has been made, noted that the reality on the ground shows that the progress level is “a far cry from the lofty campaign promises made to Abians by the government.”
While decrying the non-transparency of Otti’s administration, Kalu declared that “Abia and Abians deserve more,” vowing to build a government that leaves no one behind.
“Abia and Abians deserve more. From the people’s yearnings, especially those at the grassroots, the civil servants, the pensioners, the traders, our dear state needs a government built on transparency, accountability, and inclusive progress — a government that serves all and leaves no one behind,” he said.
“Together, we shall leverage Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope policies to spread the dividends of good governance to the grassroots, empowering our people and uplifting our macro and micro economies,” Kalu added.
With his declaration, Kalu will be a force to reckon with in the race for the Abia APC governorship ticket, possessing all the political and governance credentials that make him the best option for the opposition party to challenge the incumbent Otti’s government.
