Governor Alex Otti has warned the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and other APC members that they should prepare to die over an attempt to rig the 2027 governorship election in Abia.
“I’ve heard some people around him (Mr Kalu) saying they must take over the state, they will write results. The only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else before that time. You know what it is, their will. Because this is our state. Nobody can intimidate us,” Mr Otti said.
Mr Otti issued this warning to election riggers at a press conference in Umuahia on Thursday when asked to respond to Mr Kalu’s recent boast that the APC will deny Mr Otti a second term and take over power in 2027.
Asked if he was threatened by Mr Kalu’s recent threat to take over power in Abia by 2027, Mr Otti, who described the deputy speaker as his brother, said he was not “bothered” by the threat.
“I heard he (Mr Kalu) wants to contest the governorship in 2027, that’s fine. It is his fundamental right. Nobody should stop him,” Mr Otti of the Labour Party said.
The governor, however, noted that Mr Kalu is “demarketing” the ruling APC in Abia.
Urging Abia people to remain calm, Mr Otti faulted and condemned Mr Kalu for campaigning against INEC rules.
“We must respect the law. If INEC releases the timetable and says this is the time that the campaign starts, if you start campaigns before then, you put yourself in harm’s way—you can even be disqualified before the election. So why do you gather people and tell them you are going to take over the state in 2027, you are campaigning,” Mr Otti stated. “It is not right. I’ll plead with him (Mr Kalu) that if he wants to run for election, he should hold his fire. Once INEC blows the whistle, he should start to campaign. Abia people will decide who will be their governor.”
Mr Kalu, during his recent visit to Abia, had told his supporters to “get ready, All Progressive Congress will take over this state”.
“APC will take over Abia state. And you know why? So that what is released from Abuja will get to your ward,” said the deputy speaker.
