Reps Deputy Speaker invites Otti to APC, promises support
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, has said he has yet to declare interest in the governorship office in Abia State, and invited the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti to formerly join his party, the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Kalu stated this on Monday in his Bende country home in the Bende Local Governmrnt Area on the occasion of the 2025 Renewed Town Hall Meeting and Christmas Food Distribution, explaining that any move he makes is being misconstrued as declaring his governorship ambition.
He said, “If I fart, it is governorship. If I change my clothes and wear something nicer, it is governorship. If I say hello to somebody, it is governorship.
“If I visit anybody, it is governorship. If I am doing anything for the president, it is governorship. I want to ask you, am I not fit enough to run for governorship? Let them pray that I don’t come out. People who have declared for governorship, nobody is attacking them. Out of three of people who have declared, nobody is attacking them”.
He said political opponents are attacking him through the social media, stating, “Insult me as much as you can. We don’t have time to reply to you. But at the right time, we will tell you there is no polling unit on social media. This is not the first time I was attacked on social media. When I came to run for House of Reps, every social media was filled with attacks. And they gave my opponent 70% and gave me 30% survival.
“If I come to run for governorship, it will be a fast and a quick tough battle. We are still talking to our party. We are still listening to the leader of our party at the national level. And we are waiting for the signal”.
He called Governor Otti to join the APC.
“I want to use this opportunity again to invite Governor Alex Oti to join our party. I want to use this opportunity again, publicly, to enjoin him to come to our party. If he comes to our party, we will support him.
Speaking on the occasion where over 15 trailer loads of bags of rice, and cash were distributed to more than 100 churches, traditional rulers, 17 LGAs party faithful, northern community, People Living With Disabilities, pro-groups and support groups, Kalu said, “we are closing 2025, a year that demanded resilience, but also a year that has begun to reveal the fruits of our patience”.
Kalu reviewed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievements in the area of economy and financial re-engineering, fuel subsidy and fiscal restructuring, tax reform, power and electricity, education, international relations, security and state police, social protection, agriculture and food security, as well as business, MSMEs and jobs”, stating, “We are not just sharing rice, we have shared infrastructure, we have shared human capacity building”.
Earlier, the Director General, Ben Kalu Foundation, BKF, Trump Eke noted, “How they feel matters so much to him. How they live also matters to him. How they work matters for him. And that is why his engagement has remained consistent, personal, and accountable over two decades. Today’s gathering is very significant for its inclusiveness. It is also a clear commitment here to review hope”.
In their separate speeches, the state Chairman of the APC, Kingsley Ononogbu, the Chairman, South East Development Commission. Emeka Nwogu, and Aba South APC stakeholder, Dame Blessing Nwagba urged for resilience, assuring that APC has come to stay to connect the state to the centre.
