Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have endorsed the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for the 2027 governorship election, a move that has triggered internal opposition within the party.

The endorsement was announced on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, attended by party leaders from the three senatorial zones and all 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking at the meeting, some party leaders urged Kalu to declare his intention to run, describing him as a strong candidate capable of securing victory for the party.

“The meeting is geared towards consolidating the gains of the last party congress… leveraging the party structure across the LGAs,” said Martins Azubuike, South East representative at the Federal Capital Civil Service.

Responding, Kalu appreciated the endorsement but stopped short of making an immediate declaration.

“My response is going to be made available in a few weeks. I want to thank you for finding me worthy… when that response comes, you will be happy,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in the party’s chances in 2027, noting that the APC would strengthen its opposition role ahead of the election.

However, the endorsement was rejected by another governorship aspirant, Mascot Uzor Kalu, who warned against what he described as an attempt to impose a candidate.

In a statement on Sunday, he criticised the stakeholders’ meeting, alleging it was designed to favour a particular aspirant without broader consultation.

“Any premeditated consensus arrangement… without the participation of all aspirants… is illegitimate, unacceptable, and null and void ab initio,” he said.

“Such an imposition will be met with stiff and unequivocal resistance.”

The development signals early signs of internal contest within the Abia APC as jockeying for the party’s 2027 governorship ticket intensifies.