Mascot Kalu, the ex-chief of staff to former Governor Orji Uzor-Kalu, has formally declared his intention to contest Abia’s 2027 governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Mr Kalu pledged to build a government that works for all Abia people, especially the underserved at the grassroots level.

Delivering his declaration speech in Umuahia on Saturday, Mr Kalu emphasised the need for a new era of governance anchored on unity, transparency, and grassroots empowerment.

Mr Kalu said he decided not to contest the 2023 gubernatorial election result, despite irregularities, because the people demanded change.

“I chose not to go to court, allowing the administration space to govern, but today, Abia deserves more progress, more inclusivity, and more truth in governance,” he said.

Mr Kalu, a candidate in 2023, said that while some progress had been made under Governor Alex Otti’s administration, the delivery had not matched the campaign promises made to the people.

Outlining his agenda, the APC chieftain promised to lead a people-focused government rooted in equity, transparency, and economic development.

He pledged to fully implement President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda at the grassroots and to open the state government’s financial systems to public scrutiny.

Mr Kalu also promised to ensure that civil servants and pensioners were treated with dignity and paid promptly, in addition to creating job-driven economic programmes, targeting Abia youths.

He vowed to strengthen local government autonomy by publishing and releasing LG allocations in full and sustaining and improving existing capital projects while launching human capacity development initiatives.

Citing Abia’s unemployment rate of over 62 per cent—nearly double the national average—Mr Kalu declared it unacceptable for the state to ignore the urgency of economic revitalization.

“Our journey is not politics as usual; It is a call to restore empathy to leadership and give every Abia person a reason to believe again,” he said.

Mr Kalu invited party loyalists, progressives across political divides, and non-indigenes alike to join his team to reposition Abia under the APC.

The aspirant stressed that his movement transcended politics and was anchored in faith and resilience.

(NAN)