• Says Governor Otti is not doing enough

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has restated the resolve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over Abia State in 2027.

Kalu called out Governor Alex Otti of not doing enough with the amount of federal funds allocated to the state.

Kalu made this known in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, during a meeting of the Renewed Hope Partners — a grassroots mobilisation arm formed under the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While commending Abia citizens for their resilience, Kalu urged them to register and prepare to vote in 2027, stressing that the APC intends to reclaim Abia through the democratic process and not through coercion.

“Our takeover of Abia will not be by force as some speculate. It will be through the will of the people, expressed at the ballot box.

“Get ready, APC will take over this state so that, what will be given to us from Abuja will get to your wards. We are not going to take over this state by force like some are alleging that we want to use federal government power to do.

“We are going to use the votes of the masses who are saying that we need more, that what the state is giving us are not enough. These are the people who are going to vote for APC.

“APC and the President will be strong in Abia State. We are coming up with a rally on Dec. 29 to show them that APC is on ground in the state. This is a time to mobilise.”

Kalu said an APC-led government in Abia would restore the state’s renowned culture of hospitality and ensure that federal benefits reach every community.

Kalu charged party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation by enrolling new members across polling units, wards, and local government areas, and to take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise, especially targeting youths who would attain voting age before 2027.

The lawmaker accused Governor Alex Otti of underusing the allocation he gets from the federal government, adding that the Governor has not been able to justify the huge funds the state receives from the federal government.

The Deputy Speaker praised President Tinubu’s efforts to ensure equitable distribution of national resources and support for state governments, emphasising that several ongoing projects in Abia were funded through federal allocations derived from the savings made after the removal of fuel subsidies.

He noted that the president had released significant funds to state governors, including Abia, to accelerate development, adding that Tinubu “wants every naira to count for the benefit of the people.”

Kalu equally commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her empowerment initiatives, including the distribution of welfare packages to women across the state, describing them as clear examples of compassionate governance.