The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has lifted the 14-day ultimatum issued to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Chris Nkwonta, over alleged anti-party remarks concerning Governor Alex Otti.

The decision was reached on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the APC secretariat in Umuahia, where party leaders resolved to put the matter behind them and focus on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The party had earlier issued Kalu and Nkwonta a 14-day ultimatum to withdraw and apologise for statements it described as anti-party.

The State Working Committee (SWC), at a meeting on August 10, 2026, had condemned statements attributed to the two APC leaders in support of Otti, who is expected to seek re-election on the platform of the Labour Party.

The SWC described the alleged statements and actions as “unstatesmanlike, irresponsible, embarrassing and inimical” to the unity and electoral prospects of the APC in the state.

The party alleged that Kalu, during an interview with a national television station, declared that Otti would win the 2027 governorship election.

It also expressed displeasure over Nkwonta’s reported statement, made in the presence of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, that he would vote for Otti in the election.

However, speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday, the APC state chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, said the party had privately engaged the two leaders and reconsidered its earlier position.

Chukwu explained that Kalu and Nkwonta had reached out to the party and provided reasons for their positions, which he said were not intended to undermine the APC.

“We have listened to them privately, not publicly, because they are leaders, and they have reached out to us, and we have found out that they have reason for going the way they went, not that they want to bring the party down, but they felt that things were not properly done in a manner that was satisfactory to them,” he said.

He said the SWC had two options: review its earlier decision or allow party stakeholders to move a motion seeking its reversal.

According to Chukwu, the party opted for the second approach to demonstrate that its decision was not being withdrawn because of pressure, but to preserve the authority and supremacy of the party.

“So that second decision is what we will do because they have reached out to us, explained to us that these utterances were not made in good faith,” he stated.

Moving the motion for the unconditional pardon of the two leaders, the APC candidate for Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Uzor Azubuike, said the decision was necessary to strengthen unity within the party.

He said the party needed all its members, including those who had remained loyal and those who had previously erred, to work together in the interest of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.