The battle for the soul of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State has taken a fresh turn, with the party leadership moving against two of its prominent members over their open support for Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 election.
The Abia APC State Working Committee has handed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Chris Nkwonta a 14-day deadline to publicly apologise for remarks the party considers damaging to its electoral interests.
The decision followed a meeting of the SWC, led by its chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, in Umuahia on Wednesday.
Kalu, a former governor of the state and serving senator, had publicly predicted that Otti, who belongs to the Labour Party, would win a second term in 2027.
Nkwonta, in a separate development, reportedly declared that he would vote for Otti while speaking at a reception held in Ukwa East for the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The declarations have apparently rattled the APC leadership, which accused the two politicians of engaging in conduct capable of weakening the party ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested governorship race.
In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the SWC described the remarks as “unstatesmanlike,” embarrassing and inimical to the APC’s unity and chances in the 2027 elections.
The party said the conduct amounted to a breach of Article 21.2(11) of the APC Constitution, which empowers the party to discipline members whose actions undermine its interests.
The APC consequently demanded that Kalu and Nkwonta issue unreserved public apologies within 14 days and demonstrate renewed loyalty to the party and its candidates.
But the warning came with a clear threat of tougher action.
The party said failure by either politician to comply with the directive would trigger the constitution of a disciplinary committee, which would recommend sanctions.
The confrontation places two high-profile APC figures at odds with the party’s Abia leadership at a time when the opposition party is working to build a formidable structure ahead of the 2027 polls.
While Kalu remains one of the most influential political figures in Abia, Nkwonta is also a prominent member of the party in the state.
The APC leadership, however, insisted that individual political preferences could not be allowed to undermine the collective interest of the party.
The party said it was focused on rebuilding its ranks and securing victory in the governorship and legislative contests across Abia in 2027.
The latest ultimatum could therefore test the extent to which the APC leadership can enforce party discipline while managing competing political interests within its ranks as the 2027 contest gathers momentum.