Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, former Minority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, has expressed that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has been proven right after his widely discussed statement encouraging Governor Alex Otti to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a recent interview, Chukwu highlighted that Labour Party’s Lagos 2023 governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, made a similar comment about his party’s chances of taking over Lagos in 2027. Chukwu pointed out that Rhodes-Vivour’s optimism mirrors Kalu’s view that the APC would secure the governorship in Abia during the next election cycle.
Rhodes-Vivour recently stated at a Labour Party stakeholder meeting in Umuahia that his party is now well-prepared to challenge the APC’s control of Lagos in 2027. Chukwu, in response, questioned why Kalu has faced criticism for expressing a similar ambition for the APC in Abia State. He emphasized that Kalu’s remarks demonstrate his strategic political thinking and his desire for Abia to benefit more from federal influence under APC leadership.
Chukwu urged Labour Party supporters to reconsider their reactions and apologize for misinterpreting Kalu’s comments. He added that Kalu’s growing prominence in South-East politics makes him a leader whose influence many are eager to align with.
