From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
It will be stating the obvious to say that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Abia State in the 2023 general election due to internal party squabbles in the state.
Prior to the 2023 general elections, APC in Abia was emerging as the next port of destination owing ostensibly to the dwindling fortunes of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), that over the years saw the affairs of the state for unbroken 24 years, as a result of leadership ineptitude and inanity.
Due to lack of strong and solid opposition or so it seemed, over the years PDP in the state believed even if it presented a goat in any election, the coast would always be clear and victory was as sure as death.
This out of-the-realm assertion made leadership of the party in the state not to know when the masses became disenchanted with their shortcomings, and were all out for a real change.
Many, who believed the APC, an emerging force then in Abia politics, could have leeched on the riotous and rancorous situation in the PDP to launch itself into prominence and take over the state at least for the first time, were disappointed as the party they looked upon, was on its own involved in internal wranglings.
The APC national leadership, in what many described as an unwise decision, handed the entire state party structure to one man, who apart from not being totally on ground, also had unbridled ambition to fly the flag of the party in 2023.
This put APC in disarray and many potential governorship candidates who could have made substantial impact on the stage, had to leave the party.
One of them was, of course, Dr Alex Otti, who left APC for Labour Party (LP), and eventually won the election.
After the last election, Abia APC became a rudderless ship, loaded with precious and valuable cargoes, but without a captain that will give it direction and bring it to the shore.
It was in this state that the Senator representing Abia North at the Red Chambers, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu came in to play the role of a caring father, to bring the warring factions in Abia APC together and return peace and unity to the party.
This the former governor of the state has achieved and it is, therefore, not surprising that today those who had left PDP in droves, instead of joining the ruling LP, found adoring home in APC courtesy of the peace and unity the party has embraced.
Senator Kalu is not in any way relenting on this new efforts.
Recently, Senator Kalu received over 8,000 people who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from other political parties.
The defectors were led by two great sons of Abiriba in Abia North, Chief Kelvin Jumbo Onumah and Hon Patrick Ikechi Anya.
Speaking while receiving the defectors, Senator Kalu disclosed that he has been working day and night to ensure that peace returns to APC in the state to enable it win the governorship election in 2027.
The former Abia governor expressed joy that his efforts have started to bear fruits which he said necessitated the large number of defectors to the APC despite the fact that the party is not in power in the state presently.
Senator Kalu said it was a thing to be happy about that a personality like Onumah and others in Abiriba were joining APC, stressing that with the development, Abia North and indeed the whole of Abia State is now APC.
The former governor said that there was no doubt Chief Onumah, as a very successful businessman has touched so many lives as a private citizen, but that he needed to be in government to serve his people the more.
“Onumah has no doubt been a successful businessman who has touched so many lives as a private citizen and I think there is nobody who would not support him as he is joining APC.
“We must be in government to help our people the more and that will be done through the APC which is a great party and the largest party in Africa,” he said.
He urged the new entrants to endeavour to bring new members to the fold so that the party will win the 2027 governorship election in the state.
On the reforms embarked upon by the President Bola Tinubu administration, Kalu said: “Reforms are very difficult to achieve, I was governor and embarked on some reforms, it took me three years to get grip of the state. Nigerians should exercise patience with the present administration as things will get better soon.”
Chairman of APC in the state, Kingsley Ononogbu, who spoke glowingly about Kalu’s efforts in uniting members of APC in the state, said the party will take over the leadership of Abia State in 2027, with a promise to provide more democracy dividends for the Abia people.
Ononogbu said that APC will count on the achievements recorded by Senator Kalu in the Senate, and others to win available seats in the state, in 2027 elections.
The APC state chairman described the Abia North Senatorial zone as the capital of APC in Abia, having produced the state party chairman, senator, seputy speaker of House of Representatives and minister.
He noted that his party having corrected every mistake that prevented it from winning the state during the 2023 polls, is now more united and prepared to rule the state in 2027.
He praised Senator Kalu for achieving this feat and promised they will leverage on this.
“We expect that if we take over Abia State in 2027, you will see more actions, verifiable actions,” he said.
Ononogbu later presented the APC flag and broom to Kelvin Jombo and other defectors, saying the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members made the right choice by joining the APC.
In his speech, Onumah said that he joined APC to attract development to his people of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency as well as Abia North at large and also to add value to the APC.
Other chieftains of APC who spoke at the event, including Emma Nwosu, Hon Patrick Anya, Ogboso Ojisi, Uche Ogboso, Mrs Nnenna Obewu Onwuka, Obasi Uba, among others, all eulogized Senator Kalu for his efforts in building APC in the state.
They promised to galvanize more people in the area to ensure APC wins the state in 2027.
Over 8,000 people from other parties in the state, defected to APC on the day and they all received brooms, the symbol of the party.