John Kalu didn’t mince words. The former commissioner told a room full of party people on Saturday that no one, no matter their title or power, can bully the PDP in Abia State as it lines up for the 2027 elections.
He spoke at a stakeholders meeting inside the PDP secretariat in Umuahia. Right there he pressed leaders and ordinary members to stay united and hold firm.
Kalu, a longtime PDP figure in the state, said the party is done being pushed around. As the ex-commissioner for information, trade and investment, he told the State Working Committee to get one message out to everyone: the PDP has returned, it’s stronger now, and it’s ready for any fight that comes in 2027.
He said members should brush off the “noise of war” from the ruling government. That talk, in his view, is nothing but fear. The other side sees how well the PDP is organized and how easily it could take power back.
Abia has always been known for peaceful polls. Still, Kalu warned that nobody should pretend they own every trick, especially the sort of threats meant to scare people off.
The PDP is choosing peace because it has the experience to win that way in 2027. But the party will match whatever style the ruling group decides to play.
“Do not be afraid of the noise of war, because the noise of war is not war. Those sounding it are scared of the PDP. They know it is only the PDP that can defeat them and remove them from power.
“They are aware we still have the structure that can deliver victory with little effort. I have also observed attempts to deliberately militarise Abia State. The language being used by the governor, such as ‘write your will’, is alien to our political culture. But we are not intimidated.
“Threats about dead bodies from a deputy chairman and other reckless statements from local government chairmen are flying around. All of these are aimed at creating fear, but we are not buying it.”
He reminded the gathering that elections ran peacefully under past PDP governments in Abia. Not a single life was lost.
Kalu pointed out this is the party of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who built his name on calm leadership. Yet it can also draw on the tougher approach of Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike when someone pushes too far.
“If they want peace, we will give them peace. But if they attempt to intimidate us, we will resist firmly. We prefer peace.”
