Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has declared that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will produce the next governor of Abia state.

Kalu, 53, the former spokesman of the green chambers represents Bende Federal Constituency under the APC.

Alex Otti, a former bank chief is the current governor of Abia state under the platform of the Labour Party.

Speaking in an interview, Kalu said:

”This will be the last time that a Labour governor will govern Abia state. I say it without mincing words. The next governor of Abia state will be APC governor.”

He, however, stated that his friends with the governor, and he has made his stance known to the Abia state chief executive.

His words: ”We are friends, we work together, but I will not be the number six citizen of the country and another party will govern my state. The next election in 2027, APC will be there.

”I have told him publicly and privately that the APC governor will be next in Abia state. How it will happen, I don’t know, but it will happen.

”I am confident because my government is working hard, the president is working hard and Abia will repay the president. The president that has given you the South East Development Commission will be repaid.

”A president that is appointing Abians into administration. A president that is attracting the dividends of democracy will be repaid. We are not ungrateful people. Monkey will not work and baboon chop. APC will not help the state to be strong and Labour will take the credit.

”APC will determine who will become the next governor of Abia state. I don’t care about who the person is. But, one thing I know is the platform, APC, will be the next governor of Abia state.

”We are ready to work for Abia state and we are tired of being outside the government at the center. We need to leverage the power of the center to increase the development of Abia state.”

Kalu further stated that Otti has done well, compared to other state governors, but insisted that Abia should be under the APC.