How Deputy Speaker Kalu is testing the waters in politically-evolving Abia

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has in recent months stepped up his political engagements across Abia State, in moves that suggest early positioning ahead of the state’s 2027 governorship race.

Across Abia State, early signs of the 2027 governorship race are beginning to emerge, not through formal declarations, but through a series of calculated moves, subtle endorsements and growing grassroots engagement.

Kalu’s recent activities across the state suggests a politician carefully weighing his next step.

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In the past months, Kalu’s political footprint in Abia has become more visible. From stakeholder meetings to community gatherings, and from consultations with party leaders to appearances across the three senatorial zones, his engagements are beginning to look more deliberate than routine constituency work.

This became more evident in Isiala Ngwa, where local leaders and political stakeholders openly urged him to contest the governorship in 2027.

The calls, made at a political gathering that also featured the inauguration of a grassroots movement and the declaration of a House of Representatives aspirant, did not come across as isolated appeals. Rather, they reflected a growing alignment within one of the state’s key political blocs.

In Abia’s political setting, such coordinated endorsements rarely happen without careful groundwork. Kalu’s response, however, was measured. He neither dismissed the calls nor gave a direct answer. Instead, he acknowledged the growing support and said he would respond at the “appropriate constitutional venue”.

“I have received your request,” he told supporters, adding that he would not respond community by community, but would rather address stakeholders collectively in Umuahia. After he must have weighed in the weight of support towards the race.

“All of you will come in your number and make that request again at the state capital. When I hear it clearly on that day, I will respond,” Kalu said.

The increased activity comes at a time when the constitution review process, which he chairs at the National Assembly, has entered a quieter phase, even as timelines gradually narrow.

While such lulls are not unusual in legislative work, the overlap of national responsibility and rising state-level political engagement highlights the competing demands now shaping the Deputy Speaker’s schedule. The committee has not held any notable engagement in months.

Beyond the public statements, Kalu’s recent movements point to a broader strategy.

His visits to key political figures across Abia North, Central and South, including former governor Orji Uzor Kalu and other influential stakeholders, suggest a deliberate effort to build consensus and secure elite backing. In a state where political loyalties can shift quickly and regional considerations remain strong, such early engagement is often critical.

At each meeting, the message has been largely consistent: the need for unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC), stronger grassroots structures, and better alignment ahead of future elections. Framed within the broader agenda of Bola Tinubu, Kalu has also used the opportunity to reinforce the party’s position and push for greater political cohesion.

Still, beneath the language of unity lies a more direct political message.

Kalu has repeatedly urged voters, particularly in the South East, to be more strategic in how they cast their votes, describing voting as an “investment” that should produce returns. It is a line that reflects a growing shift among some political actors in the region, away from sentiment and towards calculation.

For Abia, this conversation is unfolding at a delicate time. The state is still adjusting to a changing political landscape following the emergence of Alex Otti, whose victory disrupted the established order and raised new expectations about governance. Against this backdrop, the gradual re-entry of established political figures into the governorship conversation adds another layer of complexity.

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If Kalu eventually declares, it would not just be about personal ambition, but also about the influence of federal power in state politics, and whether a sitting Deputy Speaker can successfully translate national prominence into local political support.

There is also the question of balance within the state. Support for Kalu appears to be coming from different parts of Abia, including Isiala Ngwa and earlier signals from other areas. This suggests an attempt to build a broad-based coalition early. But as is often the case in Abia politics, such alignments can shift as interests begin to collide.

In Abia, the 2027 governorship race may still seem distant, but the early signs are already there. Whether Kalu eventually steps into the race or not, his current moves have already placed him firmly within the conversation.

And in a state where politics is rarely static, the process of testing the waters has begun, slowly, carefully, but unmistakably.