2027: Gov. Otti on Edge as Mascot Uzor Kalu Declares Governorship Ambition, Intensifies Lobbying Within APC

By our Correspondent

As preparations for the 2027 governorship election gather pace in Abia State, political realignments are intensifying, with consultations, lobbying, and strategic maneuvering already shaping the political atmosphere.

The latest twist comes from Mascot Uzor Kalu, who has formally declared his intention to contest the governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—a move that has sent ripples through the state’s political circles.

Sources within the APC told our correspondent that Governor Alex Otti has been “unsettled” since Mascot’s declaration. According to insider accounts, the governor has begun reaching out to key party figures in a bid to join the APC ahead of the election.

“He’s been calling everywhere to find his way into the APC,” one party source revealed. “But the leadership in both Abia and Abuja has made it clear that joining the party won’t guarantee him an automatic ticket—there will be primaries.”

Mascot Uzor Kalu’s entry into the race has ignited intense discussions across the state’s political landscape. Many observers view his ambition as a direct challenge to Otti’s re-election prospects and a rallying point for aggrieved blocs seeking change in Abia politics.

An APC chieftain from Isiala Ngwa and kinsman to Governor Otti, Chijioke Nwabueze, dismissed the notion that the party needs the governor’s presence to secure victory.

“The APC doesn’t need Otti,” Nwabueze stated. “Once the party is united, we have the human and material resources to defeat him. Abians are ready for a new direction, and Mascot’s declaration has only reinforced that sentiment.”

Political analysts suggest that Governor Otti’s standing faces increasing strain. His rapport with the Ukwa la Ngwa bloc is reportedly weak, while his relationship with stakeholders from old Bende—his original power base—has become fractured.

Meanwhile, the APC boasts of formidable political figures such as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Emeka Atuma, and Henry Ikoh, among others—individuals with extensive grassroots reach and national influence.

These developments have heightened political tension in Umuahia and beyond, with Otti’s camp reportedly exploring ways to consolidate power before the primaries.

Observers believe the coming months will determine whether Governor Otti can rebuild his alliances or face an opposition coalition too powerful to counter.

For the governor, the 2027 race has only just begun—and this time, it promises to be a far tougher contest.