By Emenike Okorie
As far as the 2027 governorship election in Abia State is concerned, sir Mascot Uzor Kalu is not to be taken for granted; under-rate him at your own peril.
Mascot Uzor Kalu is not a green horn in politics. He has been the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State for four years and performed creditably well. He carved a niche for himself in the private sector and is successful in business and politics. He contested for the governorship seat in the 2023 election under APP.
Despite the fact that he lost to the current governor,Dr.Alex Otti, he still maintains his structure,MUK Movement till date, and his Free Medical Outreach has been traversing the nooks and crannies of all the communities in Abia State giving succor to the poor and sick people in the remote villages. That is what leadership is all about, not abandoning the people after election, only to resurface again when another election is around the corner.
Moreover, MUK’s elder brother, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a force in Nigerian politics, with the highest grassroot support among all the politicians in Abia State. There’s no politician in Abia State that did not emerge from OUK’s political structures, and his contacts with the high and mighty across Nigeria is topnotch. With the combination of OUK and MUK support bases in the grassroots, and the fact that Mascot Kalu is now contesting under the national ruling party APC,the mobilization in the 2027 governorship election in Abia State will be a tsunami.
Political analysts often describe “electoral value” as the measurable voting strength a candidate, political party or demographic group commands. This value is usually rooted in popularity, influence, grassroots acceptance and demonstrable impact on society. It is said that every politics is local. So you can’t win election or re-election without support from the people at the grassroots. Technocrats that have no political structures and support base at the grassroots cannot help you win election or re-election.
Power of incumbency is never a guarantee to win election. It’s true that incumbent governors rarely lost re-election in Nigeria,yet there are some instances where power of incumbency failed.
Governors who lost their second term bids are as follows, and the last on the list is very much revealing of what may likely lead to the incumbent Governor in Abia State losing to Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu in 2027:
(1) Ikedi Ohakimof Imo State.
(2) Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State.
(3) Gboyega Oyetola of APC in Osun State was defeated by Senator Ademola Adeleke of PDP.
(4) Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State lost his re-election bid right from the governorship primaries of the APC to Mr.Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
(5) Mohamed Abubakar of APC in Bauchi State lost to Senator Bala Mohamed Abdulkadir of PDP.
(6) Jibrila Bindow, the candidate of APC in the 2019 election and then incumbent Governor of Adamawa State was also defeated by the PDP candidate,Ahmadu Fintiri.
(7) Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State lost his attempt to return for a second term in 2014 election to the PDP candidate,Ayodele Fayose.
Dr.Kayode Fayemi,it was believed,lost to Fayose simply because of his elitist centered government in the State, not that he wasn’t doing visible projects, but because his government lost touch with the people at the grassroots. That’s when the mantra “Stomach Infrastructure” resonated and played a key role in truncating Dr.Fayemi’s bid to get re-elected. That’s a lesson he learnt later, but he learnt it the hard way.
It is important,at this juncture, to note that in Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu’s declaration on 25th October,2025, he pledged to build a government that works for all Abians, especially the underserved at the grassroot level. He emphasized the need for a new era of governance anchored on unity, transparency, and grassroots empowerment.
He promised to lead a “People Focused” government rooted in equity, transparency, and economic development. He made it clear that his mission is to restore empathy to leadership. He declared,”let us build an Abia that works for all of us, not just some of us”, with the mantra,” Onye ruo,orie! Arutu uzo, arutu afo!”(Translation: “He who works,eats! As you fix the road, fix the stomach too”).
———————————–
~ Hon.Chief EMENIKE OKORIE, FCA (Omenma),
Is a Political Scientist from the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka;
a Public Affairs Analyst;
a Social Media Influencer;
a Poet, an Author and a Prolific Writer;
former Deputy Chairman of Bende LGA;
the Chairman of Bende Youths’ Consultative Forum;
the Coordinator of Abia North Grassroot Leaders Forum; and
Abia State Coordinator of GRASSROOT ENGAGEMENT FOR TINUBU 2027.
