By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has intensified calls for unity, reconciliation and strategic political alignment within the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging party leaders and the Igbo electorate to “invest their votes, not waste them,” as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections.
Kalu spoke during a series of high-level courtesy visits across Abia State’s three senatorial zones, Abia North, Central and South, undertaken in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for APC leaders to deepen engagement with stakeholders and strengthen party cohesion nationwide.
During the tour, the Deputy Speaker met with prominent APC leaders and elder statesmen, including former Abia State Governor and ex-Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; Senator John Bob Nwannunu; and renowned banker and APC chieftain, Sir Mac Wabara. Across all meetings, discussions focused on party unity, internal consolidation and sustained collaboration to ensure political stability and electoral success.
Kalu said President Tinubu’s message to party leaders was unequivocal: reach across divides, set aside personal differences and work collectively to build a stronger party and a more united nation.
“This season calls for reflection, reconciliation and renewed commitment to inclusive governance,” Kalu said, adding that APC leaders must check on one another and close ranks ahead of future political contests.
Addressing the broader national political equation, the Deputy Speaker urged the Igbo to adopt a pragmatic and strategic approach to politics, arguing that numerical strength, not sentiment, determines political relevance.
According to him, the most viable path to the emergence of an Igbo president lies in building durable alliances, particularly through strategic support for the South West, which he said would foster trust, reciprocity and inclusion within Nigeria’s power structure.
“The era of sentimental politics is over. Votes are currency, and currency must be invested where it yields dividends,” Kalu declared, insisting that President Tinubu remains the most credible political investment for the South East at this time.
He praised the President’s “courageous and steadfast” leadership, noting that though Tinubu’s policies were tough, early gains were already emerging. Kalu also dismissed claims of marginalization of the South East, saying the President had demonstrated political will and fairness in project allocation and engagement with the region.
Kalu further charged APC stakeholders in Abia State to immediately step up grassroots mobilization, declaring that the party was no longer content with negotiating for 25 percent of the presidential vote in the state.
“APC in Abia now has the structure, momentum and political capital to win outright,” he said, expressing confidence that the party would deliver a decisive victory for President Tinubu in future elections.
In a notable gesture, the Deputy Speaker presented his two-year legislative scorecard to the elder statesmen, inviting open critique of his performance. He described the exercise as essential for accountability and improved service delivery.
“Leadership must be subjected to scrutiny. Honest assessment helps me serve better,” he said.
The elder statesmen, in separate remarks, commended Kalu’s performance at the National Assembly, describing him as impactful, transparent and people-oriented. They praised his openness to criticism and pledged continued support for him and the APC, vowing to work together to strengthen party structures and secure victory in 2027.
The visits ended with renewed commitments to unity, reconciliation and aggressive grassroots engagement, as Abia APC positions itself for future electoral battles.
