Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has refuted the allegation that he is anxious to become governor of Abia State in 2027, emphasizing that the people of the state and his party, the All Progressives Party (APC), will decide his future political move.
He emphasizes that serving the people of Bende Federal Constituency is his current goal and that becoming governor is not the ultimate goal for people like him.
Speaking to reporters on Friday at his rural residence, Kalu insisted that 2026 is still too early for political changes, emphasizing that his main concern is still providing his constituents with high-quality democratic dividends rather than the position he will hold in 2027.
It’s still 2026. I have not yet disclosed what I intend to run for in 2027. “I will take a stance when the time is right, and whatever my people and my party say I should contest,” he declared.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that he invited Governor Alex Otti to join the APC out of friendship and the APC’s interest.
“The narrative that I want to block him from coming to APC is not true,” he said, using the occasion to refute the rumor that he, Kalu, is preventing the governor from joining the APC.
“I would invite him to APC if I were self-centered, but here I am. Theodore Orji, a former governor of Abia State, joined the APC as a result of our continuous party membership push.
“I had previously asked the governor to join the APC, but that was in the past. He is aware of what is now best for him. I’m not going to make that call anymore,” Kalu continued.
In accordance with the party’s national policy, he clarified that as a party leader, he was willing to let any current governor who joined the APC assume control of the state’s party organization.
Naturally, the APC will field a candidate for governor of Abia State. He stated, “That’s how party politics operate.
Even though he reaffirmed his support for the creation of one more state for the South East to enable the zone to be on par with other federation zones, he claims that he is highly interested in bringing development to the Bende Federal constituency.
He argued that the establishment of a new state in the South East would improve the nation’s unity, cohesiveness, and advancement. The House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker took the chance to refute rumors that part of the ongoing roads he brought to Bende had been abandoned.
Speaking on his leadership, Kalu reiterated his dedication to effectively representing the Bende Federal area. He stated that more than 20 road improvements had been finished in the area and that a number of others were still in progress.
Kalu claimed to have raised ₦10 billion for the restoration of the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road.
“The road is part of the agreement between the Federal Government and the Abia State government for reconstruction,” he said, citing information from the Minister of Works. Nevertheless, the N10B we were able to secure for the same road was eventually diverted to the building of new roads in Bende.
He voiced alarm about the condition of the road, saying that it is shameful that such a vital artery would be in such bad shape.
The Deputy Speaker denied that the Ohumola Civic Center in Igbere has been abandoned in response to accusations that he has abandoned some of the projects he has drawn to Bende.
The Bende Federal Constituency does not have any abandoned projects. Every project is still in progress. Someone began disseminating false information at a failed 20-meter stretch of the 5.8-kilometer Bende–Ozuitem Road. He declared, “That is not governance.
In response to concerns over the Electoral Act, Kalu denied that the House of Representatives was purposefully delaying the process, claiming that the House is waiting on the Senate to take concurrent legislative action.
Regarding local government financial autonomy, Kalu reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to make sure states and local government councils follow the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“Any ruling made by the constitutional court must be followed. I think governors will comply when the time is right. State governors would be able to focus on more significant development initiatives if local governments used funding effectively, he continued.
Kalu clarified that his efforts to promote peace in the South East would soon pay off. He claims that the initiative has successfully engaged agitating groups in a covert manner.
You will concur that the South-East is more tranquil now than it was in the past. That’s not a coincidence,” he said.
