The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has explained the reason he extended an invitation to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to join the All Progressives Congress, insisting that the move was driven by friendship, party interest and a broader political vision for Abia State. Addressing the allegation directly, the Deputy Speaker said the suggestion that he was working against Otti’s entry into the APC was unfounded. Otti has, however, on several occasions publicly stated that he has no intention of joining the APC, maintaining his position clearly and consistently. The Deputy Speaker also revealed that his ongoing APC membership drive in Abia State led to the defection of former Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, to the party, a move that shifted the political balance in the state. “ Any decision about future ambition would be left to the APC and the people of Abia State, not personal calculations,” the Deputy Speaker maintained.

Source: Punch January 23, 2026 16:30 UTC