The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voiced support for the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, in urging Governor Alex Otti to return to the ruling party at the centre, claiming that the Labour Party will be ousted in 2027.

Meanwhile, the state Executive Council (EXCO) of the party has vowed to suspend one Okey Ezeala for falsely parading himself as the APC Publicity Secretary in Abia and issuing an unauthorised statement on behalf of the EXCO.

In a statement on Saturday, Abia APC Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, confirmed that the party’s state chapter is fully behind Kalu and reiterated the call for Otti to rejoin the party.

Ononogbu described Ezeala as inconsistent and unreliable, engaging in anti-party activities and unauthorised utterances.

He revealed that the state EXCO would summon Ezeala, who allegedly apologised to the State Governor on behalf of the party, to explain when he became the spokesperson of Abia APC and who authorised him.

According to Ononogbu, Ezeala’s role as the publicity secretary ended when he contested for the State House of Assembly in the 2023 election, as per the party’s rules.

While announcing that the name of the new publicity secretary will soon be made public, Ononogbu urged APC members in Abia to remain calm as the matter is being addressed.

He stressed the need for unity and support for the Deputy Speaker, encouraging hard work to win more members for the party and take over the government in Abia by 2027.

The statement read: “We came across a news report where one Okey Ezeala ‘apologised’ to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, claiming he was apologising for the bold invitation extended by our party leader, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to the Abia Governor to join APC.

“Okey Ezeala’s apology is unauthorised, fake, unsolicited, hypocritical, and smacks of bitterness and disrespect for the person and office of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Numerous APC stalwarts have aligned with Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu in his invitation to Gov. Otti. We stand with our leader and join in calling on Governor Otti to return home.

“Ezeala’s claim to be the publicity secretary is an act of impersonation. He will be summoned to explain when he was appointed spokesperson. We urge our party members to grow the party and stand firm with the Deputy Speaker in his call to Governor Otti.”