UMUAHIA – A major political rift has erupted in Abia State as the Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has launched a scathing attack on the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, accusing him of arrogance, recklessness, and deliberately inciting the Federal Government against the Abia State Government.
The caucus, in a strongly-worded press statement released on Wednesday, condemned what it described as Kalu’s “unguarded and unhealthy utterances” and a “deliberate strategy” to discredit the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
The lawmakers traced the beginning of the current tension to 2024, shortly after Kalu assumed office as Deputy Speaker, when he reportedly reiterated his boast that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would “capture Abia” in 2027.
The statement labelled such talk as “unintelligent,” “insensitive,” and “unbecoming of a public officer who ought to embody humility and emotional intelligence.”
The LP caucus alleged that since then, Kalu has “carried on with arrogance and recklessness,” making “provocative, sycophantic, and inflammatory statements” both in public and in private.
“This is the same divisive strategy he once used against respected leaders of his own party in the South East,” the statement read, asserting that Kalu’s actions are “not about service,” but are driven by “personal ambition and power-drunk tendencies, even at the expense of the peace of Abia state.”
In a pointed cultural rebuke, the caucus reminded the Deputy Speaker of the Igbo value of respect for age and office, noting that Governor Otti, as the state’s Chief Executive and an elder, deserves deference.
The statement painted a picture of Governor Otti as a leader demonstrating “political maturity and magnanimity,” highlighting that the Governor hosted an elaborate state reception in Kalu’s honour and directed all Abia LP House members to support his emergence as Deputy Speaker.
“This cooperation should have been reciprocated by Hon. Kalu. Sadly, he has chosen instead to stoke the embers of political disharmony in Abia,” the lawmakers stated.
The caucus urged Kalu to leverage his influential position as “number six” in the national protocol to attract federal projects to Abia, rather than engaging in “cheap politics.” They listed ongoing projects facilitated by Governor Otti, including the Port Harcourt Road, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, and the Omenuko Bridge, as examples of “tangible results” that bring hope to the people.
The lawmakers suggested that Kalu’s recent actions may be a reaction to the “massive public endorsement” of Governor Otti’s achievements, which was recently acknowledged by a representative of the President during a project flag-off in Aba.
The statement concluded with a warning that if Kalu persists on his current “trajectory, he may find himself at odds with Ndi Abia.” They urged Abians and Nigerians to disregard the Deputy Speaker’s “empty boasts and divisive rhetoric,” which they claim are driven by “selfish ambition, not love for the people.”
The caucus called on all citizens of the state to “stand united in support of the transformational work of Governor Alex Otti” and to “reject attempts by any individual to drag the state backwards for personal gain.”
As of the time of filing this report, the office of the Deputy Speaker has not issued an official response to the allegations.
The press statement is reproduced in full below
Press Statement by Abia Labour Party [LP] House of Representatives Caucus
We have observed with dismay a recent unfortunate political development in our dear state, Abia, occasioned by the unguarded and unhealthy utterances of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
Recall that in 2024, when elected officials were still settling down to the serious business of governance and delivering dividends of democracy to the peace-loving people of Abia, Hon. Kalu fired the first political salvo. He openly reiterated a statement he had made in the past, boasting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would “capture Abia” in 2027, flaunting his “number six” position in the federal hierarchy as if political power were a personal trophy.
Such careless talk, repeated shortly after assuming office as Deputy Speaker, was not only unintelligent and insensitive but also unbecoming of a public officer who ought to embody humility and emotional intelligence.
Since then, Hon. Kalu has carried on with arrogance and recklessness, making provocative, sycophantic, and inflammatory statements both publicly and privately. His conduct reveals a deliberate strategy, to incite the Federal Government and the ruling party at the centre against the Abia State Government, while peddling falsehoods to discredit the administration of Governor Alex Otti, OFR.
This is the same divisive strategy he once used against respected leaders of his own party in the South East. His recent actions are not about service, they are about personal ambition and power-drunk tendencies, even at the expense of peace of Abia state.
Governor Otti has consistently shown respect for both the Age and the Exalted Office of Mr. President, maintaining a cordial and constructive relationship with him. In the same spirit, Ben Kalu is expected to accord due respect to the Governor, not only in recognition of his office as the state’s Chief Executive but also in Deference to his Age, in keeping with Igbo cultural values and proper upbringing.
Unlike what is often seen elsewhere, opposition political office holders are met with hostility in their states , Governor Alex Otti has consistently demonstrated political maturity and magnanimity towards Hon. Kalu.The Governor extended goodwill to him upon his emergence as Deputy Speaker, including hosting an elaborate state reception in his honor and attended by Labour Party officials and federal legislators.
Governor Otti directed all Abia LP House members to support Kalu’s emergence as Deputy Speaker.
This cooperation should have been reciprocated by Hon. Kalu. Sadly, he has chosen instead to stoke the embers of political disharmony in Abia.
Having watched his recent antics, we therefore state the following observations:
1. Hon. Kalu should engage in sober self-reflection. His hubris and inciteful remarks are unbecoming of a Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
2. He must remember that many have occupied and will still occupy that seat; decorum, not arrogance, defines true leadership.
3. Governor Alex Otti has facilitated and is executing numerous federal projects across Abia — including Port Harcourt Road, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Omenuko Bridge, and the 25 km Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road soon to be flagged off. These are tangible results, a kind of leadership that brings hope to ordinary people, creates jobs, opens up communities, and makes Abia a pride of the nation again.
4. As he always boast to be “number six” in national protocol, Hon. Kalu ought to leverage his office to support these projects for Abia’s growth, rather than playing cheap politics in his six years as a member of the House of Representatives.
5. If the massive public endorsement of Governor Otti’s achievements, witnessed recently in Aba as applauded by the President who was ably represented by Distinguished Senator David Umahi and the good people of Abia at the flag- off ceremony unsettles Hon. Kalu, that is no justification to pursue mischief and incitement. If he persists on this trajectory, he may find himself at odds with Ndi Abia.
6. Abians and Nigerians are hereby urged to disregard Hon. Kalu’s empty boasts and divisive rhetoric. His actions are driven by selfish ambition, not love for the people.
Governor Otti enjoys a cordial relationship with Mr. President, and no amount of political scheming by Honorable Kalu can disrupt Abia’s steady progress.
The people of Abia are politically discerning. They can see through Hon. Kalu’s selfish antics and understand that his fight is not against one man but against the collective interest of good governance, peace, and progress in Abia State.
We call on all Abians- young and old, market women and traders, professionals, party members, elders and elites across party lines and political persuasions to stand united in support of the transformational work of Governor Alex Otti, OFR, and to reject attempts by any individual to drag the state backwards for personal gain.
Ultimately, power belongs to God Almighty.
Signed
HOR LP Caucus
