Former Abia governors Orji Kalu and Theodore Orji met in Umuahia on Friday to plan a political strategy aimed at reclaiming influence from Governor Alex Otti.

The meeting brought together political actors who served the state between 2009 and 2023, with Kalu describing it as a move to forge a unified front. He proposed expanding the group, known as “The Team,” to include all former officeholders from that period, emphasizing their significant contributions to Abia’s development.

“Leadership is a relay race. I finished and handed over to Senator T. A. Orji, and he finished and handed over to Okezie Ikpeazu,” Kalu said. “No one can claim we did nothing or that we are irrelevant. Our goal is clear: one person must go down in 2027.”

Kalu encouraged members to stay committed, highlighting that the platform is bipartisan and open to allies across party lines.

A key development from the meeting was a motion by Chinedum Orji, former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, to expand the group to include all political officeholders, including national assembly members, who served between 2009 and 2023. The motion was unanimously adopted.

Earlier this week, Kalu criticized Otti, saying the governor “overrates himself politically” and would need the backing of key stakeholders to succeed. The remarks followed Otti’s statement that he would support the Labour Party candidate in Abia North to challenge Kalu in the 2027 elections.