A fresh call for transparency has emerged in the ongoing controversy surrounding the academic credentials of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, as the Abia Patriots urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure a thorough investigation into the matter.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 11th March 2026, the Secretary General of the Abia Patriots, Mazi Adindu Madumere, called on key regulatory bodies to “promptly and dispassionately” investigate allegations of irregularities concerning the Deputy Speaker’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Law School certificates.
The group specifically appealed to the Council of Legal Education and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to step in, emphasizing the need to restore public trust in these institutions.
The controversy, initiated by a coalition of civil society groups, questions the timeline of Kalu’s participation in the NYSC scheme and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, with allegations that both programmes were undertaken simultaneously—a violation of established rules.
However, the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Livinus Nwabughiogu, has dismissed the allegations, describing them as “unproven claims” and “politically motivated.”
In response, Mazi Madumere insisted that the concerned agencies must release the Deputy Speaker’s official records to put the matter to rest. He warned against any form of compromise, expressing concern that the language used by the Deputy Speaker’s spokesman “creates room for suspicion of complicity.”
Beyond the regulatory bodies, the Abia Patriots are seeking presidential intervention. Mazi Madumere appealed to President Tinubu to urgently constitute a high-powered panel of inquiry to investigate the matter thoroughly. He cautioned that the lingering controversy could negatively impact the ruling party’s fortunes in the 2027 general elections if not properly managed.
“The Deputy Speaker’s imbroglio has the capacity of impacting negatively on the fortunes of the ruling party in the 2027 elections if not properly handled,” Madumere said.
The group also drew a parallel to recent criticisms surrounding the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Mr. Daniel Bwala, who has faced calls for dismissal over remarks deemed embarrassing to the nation on the international stage.
Concluding the statement, Mazi Madumere stressed the urgency of the situation. “The Abia Patriots believe that it is essential for the issues at stake to be clarified once and for all to save the public, especially Abians, from further embarrassment,” he said.
