Labour Party Abia reps condemn Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for divisive remarks against Governor Alex Otti and warn against political incitement
Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives from Abia State have strongly condemned Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for what they describe as “careless, unguarded, and unhealthy utterances” against Governor Alex Otti.
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In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the LP caucus leader, Ginger Onwusibe, the lawmakers expressed dismay over Kalu’s repeated “disrespectful and divisive comments” targeting the governor.
Kalu had recently accused Governor Otti of failing to justify the increased federal allocations to Abia State following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He also vowed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would “take Abia from Otti” in the 2027 elections.
The LP caucus dismissed Kalu’s remarks as “insensitive and unbecoming of a public officer,” adding that such “careless talk,” especially from someone in his high office, was “contrary to the humility and emotional intelligence expected of a leader.”
Recalling that Kalu had earlier boasted about APC’s plans to capture Abia in 2027 shortly after his emergence as Deputy Speaker, the caucus accused him of “arrogance and recklessness” in making provocative and inflammatory statements.
“This conduct reveals a deliberate attempt to incite the Federal Government and the ruling party at the centre against the Abia State Government while peddling falsehoods to discredit Governor Otti’s administration,” the lawmakers said.
The LP members further accused Kalu of pursuing “personal ambition and power-drunk tendencies” at the expense of peace in Abia, stressing that respect should be accorded to Governor Otti as both the state’s Chief Executive and an elder, in line with Igbo cultural values.
They reminded that Governor Otti had directed all Abia Labour Party members in the House to support Kalu’s emergence as Deputy Speaker, a cooperation that the Deputy Speaker has not reciprocated.
The caucus urged Kalu to engage in “sober self-reflection,” warning that his “hubris and inciteful remarks are unbecoming of a Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly,” adding that the office should be held “with decorum, not arrogance.”
Highlighting Governor Otti’s role in facilitating federal projects for Abia’s development, the LP members challenged Kalu to use his office constructively instead of engaging in “cheap politics.”
They also pointed to the strong public endorsement of Governor Otti’s performance, citing the recent Aba project flag-off attended by President Bola Tinubu’s representative, Senator David Umahi, as evidence of growing support.
“If the massive endorsement unsettles Hon. Kalu, that is no excuse for mischief or incitement,” the statement warned.
Concluding, the LP caucus called on Abians and Nigerians to disregard what they described as Kalu’s “empty boasts and divisive rhetoric,” reiterating that his actions are driven by selfish ambition rather than genuine concern for the people.
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They affirmed that Governor Otti maintains a cordial relationship with President Tinubu and that no political scheming by Kalu can derail Abia’s steady progress.
