The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, accusing a faction of the Labour Party of resorting to personal attacks instead of addressing critical governance issues raised by the former governor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, described the outburst by the Umuehim Nvosi faction of the Labour Party as misplaced and lacking substance.
“The Abia State chapter of the APC considers it necessary to respond to the recent outburst by the Umuehim Nvosi faction of the Labour Party, which chose to attack the person of Orji Uzor Kalu rather than engage the critical issues he raised,” Aguoru said.
The APC dismissed the group’s legitimacy, noting that it is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Ordinarily, as a leading political party, we would not concern ourselves with faceless and fragmented groups… whose legitimacy remains unrecognized by INEC and which, in the eyes of the law, does not exist,” he stated.
The party said it was compelled to respond due to what it described as the group’s failure to address substantive concerns raised by Kalu.
“Their statement… descended into needless innuendos, name-calling, and personal attacks, completely ignoring matters of urgent public concern,” Aguoru said.
According to him, the senator had highlighted pressing issues affecting the state, including the rising cost of education and poor welfare conditions of teachers and lecturers.
“These are not speculative claims; they are realities known to the people. Yet, instead of addressing these concerns, the faction resorted to attacking his person and family,” he added.
The APC also backed Kalu’s remarks on infrastructure, insisting that most ongoing projects in the state were initiated by previous administrations.
“He further highlighted the absence of new infrastructure development… noting that what is being showcased are rehabilitated projects initiated by past governments, including those executed during his tenure between 1999 and 2007,” Aguoru said.
The statement further raised concerns over what it described as emerging political violence in the state.
“More concerning is his warning about the emergence of political violence and what may rightly be described as political banditry… developments previously alien to Abia’s political landscape,” he said.
The party criticised the Labour Party faction for dismissing such concerns, describing it as unpatriotic.
“To dismiss such weighty issues as mere ‘fear’ reflects a lack of patriotism and a troubling disregard for the genuine concerns of the Abia people,” Aguoru stated.
It described Kalu’s intervention as statesmanlike and deserving of commendation.
“Senator Kalu’s call on Alex Otti to prioritise the welfare of Abians and ensure the prudent use of public resources is a patriotic and statesmanlike intervention,” he said.
The APC urged the faction to focus on governance rather than personal attacks.
“The Umuehim Nvosi faction of the Labour Party should abandon the path of personal attacks and instead demonstrate responsibility by addressing the issues raised,” the statement added.
Looking ahead, the party expressed confidence in its electoral prospects.
“One thing, however, remains certain: come 2027, the APC will not only secure all three senatorial seats but also win the seven House of Representatives seats, the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly, and reclaim the Abia State Government House in Umuahia,” Aguoru declared.
He concluded by calling for leadership anchored on accountability and transparency.
“Abians deserve leadership anchored on accountability, performance, and transparency—not media content creation, noise-making, bullying of senior citizens, and unnecessary distractions,” he said.
