9th March 2026, NewsOrient, Investigation, Politics, Governance And Development, News. Photo Credit: New Telegraph And Facebook
Interviews/Reports By NewsOrient Politics Team

As the 2027 General Elections draw closer, grassroots political campaign across Nigeria is gathering steam.

Already, political town criers are raising dusts, fueling politics of name calling, unending allegations, general misinformation and confusion, instead of encouraging informed discussions of issues for an ideal 2027 election campaigns that will ultimately bring the unbiased results true Nigerians desire.

To ascertain the true political situations in Abia North, NewsOrient Politics Desk has resolved to embark on independent, on-the-field investigation of the grassroots political happenings and to regularly report results of it’s findings in order to avail common Nigerians the opportunity of knowing the true, unbiased situations away from the tantrums of political opponents.

We are flagging off this continuous independent investigation with Abia North Senatorial District, where All Progressives Congress (APC) holds political dominance in a Labour Party-led state within the Southeast geo-political zone. This is the District that produces former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, as it’s Senator.

Today, some opponents of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, have raised dust, leading to questions as to whether the former Governor  is likely to be re-elected as the Senator representing the district and whether his leadership of APC in the Southeast state will favour the ruling All Progressives Congress and it’s Presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027?

Harping on reported verbal altercations between former Governor Kalu of APC and the incumbent Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti of the Labour Party, some Kalu’s political opponents are saying that for making comments considered negative against Governor Otti, they will ensure Senator Kalu loses his grip on the politics of Abia State and Abia North Senatorial District in particular.

NewsOrient reports that this dust has emerged one of the central topics in formal and informal discussions ahead of 2027 Elections in Abia State. The questions frequently being asked today include: How relevant is former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu today in Abia State politics in general and in Abia North Senatorial District in particular. Does the hard fighting politician widely called OUK, still have what it takes to win votes for himself and his political party, APC, in Abia North and in Abia State of today, where Dr Alex Chioma Otti governs?

To ascertain the true and current situation in Abia North grassroots politics as at today, NewsOrient political reporters visited the five local government areas (LGAs) that make up Abia North Senatorial District to guage the people’s political pulse and to hear them speak behind the camera and in their village homes, uninfluenced.

The local government areas visited are Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia, and Umu Nneochi. There, some grassroots leaders, rural farmers, women and youths spoke exclusively to NewsOrient.

Their individual responses to our questions, either in Igbo language or English language, portray a people deeply desirous of and appreciative of good governance. Their comments show they are people courageous enough to say and to vote for what they truly believe in, the ongoing propaganda and name calling notwithstanding.

Where they disagreed, they are bold enough to say it. We also discovered that majority of the people that spoke to our reporters demonstrated that today’s grassroots political leaders and majority of the voters in the rural communities are considerably informed and determined. From the fire in their eyes and the passion with which they expressed their views, it seems they know what they want and may courageously go for it in 2027.

Below are excerpts from some of the exclusive interviews NewsOrient had with numerous rural grassroots dwellers in Abia North Senatorial District between February 21, 2026 and March 6, 2026:

*Elder Kalu Eke* (Item in Bende LGA): “Reports that there are some misunderstanding between Governor Alex Otti and former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senator representing us in Abuja, is sad. We would prefer a situation where the two leaders will work together in the interest of all.

As is self evident here in Item today, Orji remains our grassroots political leader. The people that are currently occupying political leadership positions in our wards and other constituencies are products of Orji Uzor Kalu’s political structure. That aside, he has, as our Senator, demonstrated quality representation both in Abuja and in his delivery of infrastructural development within the length and breath of the Senatorial District.

“This is why I tell you that though Governor Alex Otti is doing very well as the incumbent Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu still holds the political ace in our area and so, it will be in everybody’s interest if he and Governor Alex Otti can work in peace with true understanding and mutual respect for one another…

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, aside reports of his activism at the National Assembly in Abuja, is delivering tangible infrastructural development in many parts of the Senatorial District, Item inclusive. The reconstruction and tarring of the road linking Apuanu Item and Amaekpu Item, which is still in progress, is one of the infrastructural facilities Orji has given to our people as a Senator.

“This is the truth which propaganda, political blackmail and name calling cannot change.

“Truth is that before Orji became our Senator, our people never knew a lawmaker can actually attract and deliver quality rural roads, school buildings and such like to any part of his constituency…

“Orji has changed the narrative here and this is one of the reasons we would want him to still represent us another term.”

*Deacon Ukandu Onyeama* – Ovim in Isuikwuato LGA: “I can confirm to you that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senator representing us at the National Assembly, has desperate political enemies here in Isuikwuato.

“I think their grouse against the Senator is that he was the State Governor for two terms and that he has also served two terms as our Senator. They want him to go home to Igbere and let another leader emerge, possibly from Isuikwuato.

“While I support fair electoral contests that allow emergence of new leaders when necessary, I am not in support of discrediting a performing leader just because you want to enthrone another. No! That is not democracy. If a new leader emerges through free and fair elections, that is good, but if you recklessly destroy a leader through deliberate misinformation and outright lies, you would have done a grievous disservice to the common electorates.

“The question we should be asking should be, is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu truly performing creditably as our Senator?

“In my opinion, he remains our best candidate for that office.

“He has the connection, the reach and the capacity to deliver the needed dividends of democracy to our people.

“I say this out of hindsight as an informed grassroots leader. I am a retired school teacher who have spent most of my adult life as a leader of some sort in the rural communities that I served.

“Here in the villages, our people face hunger and lack with courage and dignity. We are visited by smooth talking politicians during election years. Most of the time, they deceive us.

“So, you see, I have seen different types of representations even at the local council level. I know what I am saying concerning Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s current representation of our people at the Senate, the Upper legislative Chamber of the National Assembly.

“I must add however that Orji, as a person, has his shortcomings. Yes! As a bold and outspoken politician and a fearless fighter, he may have made for himself many enemies, including enemies that should not be his enemies. But this flaw should not stop us from acknowledging and taking advantage of Orji Kalu’s political experience and leadership capacity.”

*Engr. Okoro Ukpai-Uduma,* (Asaga, Ohafia, Ohafia LGA):

“I think Abia North Senatorial District will be one of the most interesting areas to watch ahead of 2027 Elections.

“For Ohafia in particular, the senatorial election promises to be the most interesting.

“We all know the unfortunate happenings here of late: How the women demonstrated in the streets of Ohafia and warned our Senator, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, to come and beg them or they will work against his re-election in 2027; how Ohafia youths, through Ohafia Youths Association Inc. (OYA), banned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from entering Ohafia, one of the prominent communities that constitute the District he represents at the National Assembly, and how the Udumeze Ohafia Ancient Kingdom and the Council of Ohafia Monarchs formally overturned the declaration by the youths.

“These are recent happenings in Ohafia, but as an exposed individual, I can tell you that it is primarily politics, probably fueled by some misunderstandings or a scheme to introduce new aspirants for the seat.

“Abia North Senatorial District, as you know, is made up of great communities that share rich history as brothers and since 1998, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, from Igbere in Bende Local Government Area, has played a central role in the shaping and development of the political evolution of all the communities in Abia North District.

“It is obvious today that some aspirants here feel it is time to retire the leader and get a new leader. This looks like the most probable reason why they may have empowered their supporters to create political wars.

To survive it, I think Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will need to work hard underground to douse the smoke. Given his experience and capacity, the task may not be beyond him, but no one needs to be told that the battle lines have been drawn already.”

*Madam Adaugo Egbo* (Nkwoagu, Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA): “When the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, first defeated Senator Mao Ohuabunwa from Atani village in Arochukwu Local Government Area, we were sad because we were told by some political leaders here that Orji, who was the State Governor for eight years before, fought and defeated Mao because he did not want Arochukwu, Ohafia or Umunneochi axis to produce a state governor or Abia North Senator.

“Since then however, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has been able to win supporters for himself here.
This is because it was his coming that made our people to know that a lawmaker can actually deliver quality roads and other infrastructural developments to rural communities.

“I cannot name all he has done offhand, but I can’t forget that he is the person that renovated schools in Umuaku, my maternal community and other areas.

“He has also constructed and renovated some roads linking long neglected rural communities.

Today however, his opponents are telling us to examine the quality of the infrastructural facilities he has brought to our people.
They are probably the ones projecting the trending video of the rejection of classroom desks Senator Orji Uzor Kalu gave to our people in Umunneochi.

“This has deepened the division that now exists over our people’s acceptance and support for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s re-election in 2027.”

*Mazi Uwakwe Ikwuegbu,* (Amangwu, Arochukwu in Arochukwu LGA): “Here in Arochukwu, majority of our people see Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as a blessing to us. We praise him because he has tried by providing for our remote communities, infrastructural development we never knew could be provided by a lawmaker.

“He initiated and constructed Umuzomgbo Ihechiowa Road. He also reconstructed Amanagwu road, just to mention a few.

“If you add these practical development to the radical changes brought to our rural communities by the Solar Powered Street Lights that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also brought to our people, you will understand why majority of our people still want him as our representative at the Senate.

“But not all of us still see Orji Uzor Kalu this way. Some, especially some members of the political elite, now want Senator Kalu to allow emergence of a new leader.

“They tell us that the Senator is a sit tight leader who now acts as a god.

“Advancing what they call ‘fair regional leadership scheme within Abia North,” they said Orji, who is from Bende Local Government Area, should give way for the emergence of another Abia North leader from Arochukwu, Ohafia axis.”

CONCLUSION:

From these interviews, NewsOrient reports that the claim that there is a growing opposition over the political leadership of Abia North Senatorial District, is real.

But it seems clear that one strategy Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the political leader of the area, has used to further advance his political strength in the whole of Abia North Senatorial District and in Abia State, is his provision of physical infrastructure to communities in the whole local governments that make up Abia North Senatorial District.

Commenting on Orji Uzor Kalu’s re-election bid in 2027 and the issues currently raised by his opponents in Abia North Senatorial District, Chief Earnest Okoroafor, a Public Affairs analyst from Abia North Senatorial District, who is however based in Umuahia, Abia State capital, told NewsOrient: “All keen observers today, can easily see that even Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s bitterest political opponents cannot deny that  he has gone beyond the primary role of a lawmaker, which is lawmaking, to impact on the rural communities across the Abia North Senatorial District, through provision of physical infrastructure and other critical needs.

“This means so much to the rural dwellers and that is why today, Kalu’s opponents are only questioning the quality of the facilities Orji has made available to the rural communities.

“In a way, the joke is on the critics. Is it not a fact that before Orji became the Senator there, the rural communities were deceived into believing that it is only the Executive that can build or attract basic physical infrastructure to them?

“It seems Orji has debunked this claim, so to stop Orji’s re-election in 2027, his opponents will need to do more than relying on mere propaganda,” Chief Ernest Okoroafor said, adding, “although I prefer to remain apolitical, it is easy to see that APC, as a political party, will be smart if it  intentionally leverages on Orji’s influence in Abia State and his performance in Abia North to significantly
improve upon the party’s 4% performance in the 2023 Presidential Election in the state.

“Orji Uzor Kalu, as we all know, has been preaching that “the Southeast needs a strategic alignment with the ruling party (APC) at the federal level to maximize benefits.

“I am one of the electorates that can say today that Orji has done more than mere preaching in this instance. I think he has shown leadership capacity.

“As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), our people should see Orji Uzor Kalu as the credible link between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the five Southeast states,” Okoroafor said.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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