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Abia’s foremost socio-political group, Reality Organisation, has rejected the allegation of anti-party activity levelled against the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, by the Abia State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the accusation as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate a respected party leader.
In a statement signed by its representative, Dimgba Okereke, the organisation said on Tuesday that the APC in Abia State should not be allowed to become the preserve of a few individuals who, rather than building the party ahead of the 2027 elections, were allegedly promoting division, intolerance and political exclusion.
The organisation was reacting to the communiqué issued by the Abia APC State Working Committee on Monday, in which the party condemned comments attributed to Senator Kalu and Hon. Chris Nkwonta and demanded public apologies over alleged anti-party conduct.
Reality Organisation described the action against Kalu as unwarranted, arguing that the senator did not endorse Governor Alex Otti or the Labour Party in the television interview referenced by the APC leadership.
According to the group, Kalu was asked whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election and answered in the affirmative. He was also asked whether Governor Otti would win the Abia governorship election and likewise responded in the affirmative.
The organisation stressed that when asked whether the APC had an alliance with Governor Otti, Senator Kalu’s response was an unequivocal no.
“Where, therefore, is the endorsement? Is a prediction now synonymous with an endorsement? Has political analysis suddenly become anti-party activity?” the group queried.
It maintained that there was a fundamental difference between making a political assessment and endorsing a candidate, arguing that Kalu’s comments amounted to his assessment of the prevailing political circumstances and not a declaration of support for the Labour Party candidate.
“A prediction is an assessment of what one believes may happen; an endorsement is an expression of support for a candidate or cause. Conflating the two is either intellectual laziness or a deliberate attempt to mislead members of the party and the public,” the organisation said.
Reality Organisation further argued that rather than threatening Kalu with disciplinary action, the Abia APC leadership should regard his prediction as an opportunity for introspection.
The group asked why the party leadership would not examine the political circumstances that informed Kalu’s assessment and work towards changing the equation ahead of 2027.
“If the leadership of the APC in Abia State were genuinely serious about winning the 2027 governorship election, Senator Kalu’s answers should have provided an opportunity for sober self-reflection.
“Rather than reaching for threats and disciplinary proceedings, they should be asking themselves what shortcomings within the party could produce such a prediction and what must be done to change the political equation before 2027,” it said.
The organisation also accused the Abia APC leadership of applying different standards to political actors, alleging that similar political predictions made against Senator Kalu in the past did not attract the same level of condemnation or disciplinary threats.
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It cited an article reportedly published shortly before the National Assembly primaries which predicted political hurdles for Kalu even if he secured the APC senatorial ticket, asking why those who are now demanding sanctions did not react with similar intensity at the time.
“Where were Chijioke Chukwu and his colleagues then? What was their reaction? Where was the communiqué? Where was the righteous indignation?” the organisation queried.
It described the alleged disparity as evidence of “selective outrage” and warned that such an approach could further deepen divisions within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group further declared that no individual or faction owns the APC in Abia State, stressing that the party belongs to all members who have contributed to its growth and electoral struggles over the years.
“Benjamin Kalu does not own it. Chijioke Chukwu does not own it. Neither does any collection of political cronies have the authority to convert a national political party into a private estate where disagreement is punished and independent thought is treated as rebellion,” the statement said.
Reality Organisation said genuine party members who had worked to build the APC in Abia would not remain silent if what it described as a culture of intimidation, segregation and impunity continued.
It warned that the continued exclusion of legitimate stakeholders could trigger a fresh organisational crisis within the party.
“If this culture of segregation, intimidation, high-handedness and impunity continues, then, by the grace of God, genuine and patriotic members of the Abia APC will have no alternative but to unveil a dedicated State Working Committee to run the affairs of the party and provide the inclusive leadership that members across Abia State deserve,” it said.
The organisation, however, maintained that the ultimate test of political strength should be the ballot box rather than disciplinary threats.
It challenged the Abia APC leadership to organise the party, reconcile aggrieved members, end perceived segregation, produce a credible candidate and mobilise effectively for the 2027 election if it disagreed with Kalu’s assessment.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s prediction should provoke introspection, not persecution. If the Abia APC disagrees with his assessment, the answer is simple: organise the party, reconcile aggrieved members, end segregation, present a credible candidate, mobilise Abians and prove the prediction wrong at the ballot box.
“That is democracy. Threats, selective disciplinary proceedings and political grandstanding will not win an election,” the organisation stated.
Reality Organisation urged APC stakeholders across Abia State to prioritise reconciliation, inclusiveness and collective mobilisation, warning that internal persecution of prominent party members could weaken the party’s chances ahead of 2027.
It concluded with a strong warning to those allegedly attempting to monopolise the affairs of the party: “Enough is enough.”
