Uche Ogah Is the Kingmaker in Abia — APC Chieftain
Chief Joshua Ogbonna(left) and Dr Uche Ogah (right)
By Our Correspondent
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Joshua Ogbonna, has stated that no aspirant can become governor of the state without the backing and political input of former governorship candidate, Dr Uche Ogah.
Ogbonna, who serves as Director of Media and Publicity for the Abia Rejoice Movement, made the statement during an interview with journalists in Umuahia.
He described Ogah’s purported suspension from the APC—following his recent public endorsement of Governor Alex Otti for a second term in 2027—as a nullity.
It will be recalled that, at a recent emergency meeting, the party reaffirmed the suspension of the former Minister of State for Minerals and Steel Development over alleged anti-party activities.
The party maintained that Ogah has remained suspended since 2022, in line with its constitution, citing actions deemed contrary to its interests.
However, Ogbonna dismissed the suspension as “dead on arrival,” alleging that it was motivated by malice, personal greed, and executed by individuals who, according to him, have contributed little to the party’s growth.
According to Ogbonna, Ogah remains the dominant political force within the APC in Abia State.
“Whoever intends to become governor of Abia should take this as settled: without Ogah’s support, such ambition cannot succeed,”
“Governor Otti himself could not have secured victory in 2023 without Ogah’s backing.”he said.
Ogbonna commended Governor Otti’s leadership, describing it as transformative, and emphasised that the Abia Rejoice Movement—founded by Ogah—has no regrets in supporting the current administration.
“If Otti derails, he will certainly lose our support. However, if he sustains his current trajectory, I can assure you that Ogah will have further political pronouncements to make,” he added.
While reaffirming his loyalty to the APC, Ogbonna argued that the Labour Party (LP) lacks a viable grassroots structure in Abia State and should not be regarded as the party to beat.
He further contended that it was not the LP that secured Otti’s victory in 2023, but rather the collective will of Abia’s electorate driven by dissatisfaction with previous governance alongside the political support of Ogah.
