As momentum for the 2027 governorship election gathers in Abia State, political alignments are shifting rapidly, with intense lobbying, consultations, and strategic moves already underway. The latest spark came from Mascot Uzor Kalu, who recently declared his intention to contest the governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has unsettled the current political landscape.
Party sources told our correspondent that Governor Alex Otti is “panicking and making calls everywhere” following Mascot’s declaration. The governor, according to insiders, has been lobbying to join the APC ahead of the elections.
“He’s making calls everywhere on how to join APC,” a source said. “But the leadership of the party in Abia and Abuja has told him clearly that even if he joins, he won’t get an automatic ticket. There’s going to be primaries.”
The entry of Mascot Uzor Kalu has already stirred deep political conversations across the state. Many see his ambition as a direct challenge to Otti’s re-election bid and a rallying point for aggrieved political blocs in Abia.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC in Isiala Ngwa and Governor Otti’s kinsman, Chijioke Nwabueze, dismissed any notion that the party needs the governor to win in 2027.
“The APC doesn’t need Otti,” Nwabueze said. “If the party is united, we have the resources–both human and material to unseat him. Abia people are ready for change, and Mascot’s entrance has only made that clearer.”
Analysts say Otti’s political standing faces growing challenges. His relationship with the Ukwa la Ngwa bloc is reportedly fragile, while his ties with stakeholders from old Bende, his major support base who played key roles in his initial victory, have become strained.
At the same time, the APC is parading political heavyweights such as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Emeka Atuma, Henry Ikoh among others, all veterans with deep grassroots structures and national influence.
The developments have created palpable tension in Umuahia and beyond, as Governor Otti’s team reportedly explores all options to consolidate power before the primaries. Political watchers say the coming months will reveal whether the governor can rebuild alliances or face an opposition coalition too strong to ignore.
For Governor Otti, the race for 2027 has only just begun; and this time, it may not be an easy dance.