UMUAHIA, NIGERIA — Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, has declared that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu remains unstoppable in his bid to return to the Senate in 2027, asserting that no political figure in Abia North currently possesses the capacity to unseat the former governor .
Speaking at a high-powered political gathering in Umuahia, Orji moved a motion calling for the expansion of “The Team”—a coalition of former political office holders who served in Abia State between 2009 and 2023—to include all National Assembly members and other political actors from that era . The motion was unanimously adopted by members of the group .
“As far as I’m concerned, I have not seen anybody in Abia North that’ll stop Senator Orji Kalu from returning to the Senate in 2027,” Orji declared, throwing the weight of his political influence behind the incumbent senator representing Abia North .
The declaration comes amid rising political tensions in Abia State as former governors Orji Kalu and Senator Theodore Orji lead a coalition determined to reclaim power from Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 general election . The group, which includes political heavyweights who held power between 2009 and 2023, has formed a common front christened “The Team,” with the sole objective of unseating Otti and winning all elective positions for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state .
Kalu, who currently represents Abia North in the 10th Senate, had earlier stated his intention to seek re-election in 2027 if his constituents find him worthy . Speaking in Igbere in June 2025, the former governor said, “In 2027, I will run for re-election for the Senate. I will run if our people find me worthy. A man who has done more than 187 roads in six years as a senator, and I have done more than 123 primary schools” .
However, Kalu’s political dominance in Abia North has not gone unchallenged. In recent weeks, youth groups in Ohafia have protested against the senator, accusing him of branding the community an IPOB stronghold during the 2023 elections and failing to attract development projects to the area . The Ohafia Youth Association has declared Kalu “persona non grata” in the community, alleging that over 150,000 residents were disenfranchised in the last election due to heavy security presence .
Despite these protests, Chinedum Orji’s endorsement signals continued solidarity among the old political guard in Abia. The former Speaker, who is the son of Senator Theodore Orji, has thrown his weight behind the coalition’s objective, which includes endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term and instituting legal action to compel Governor Otti to relocate from his Nvosi residence to the Government House in Umuahia .
Political observers note that Orji’s declaration reflects the confidence of the Kalu-led coalition as it consolidates ahead of the 2027 elections. The group has constituted a Technical Committee chaired by Professor ACB Agbazuere to advise on legal and political strategies, including the proposed lawsuit against Governor Otti .
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