Benjamin Kalu Secures APC Reps Ticket, Vows Continued Service to Bende Constituency

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest again for the Bende Federal Constituency seat, expressing gratitude to party members for endorsing him for a third term.

Speaking to journalists after the APC House of Representatives primaries in Abia State on Saturday, Kalu said the overwhelming support he received from delegates and party faithful reflected their confidence in his leadership and performance over the years.

“I’m happy that my people, the members of my party, found me worthy to return to the House of Representatives. They have seen it for a while, but today they decided to formalise it. They massively came out to endorse me for my third term,” he said.

Kalu noted that no aspirant emerged to challenge him during the primaries, attributing the development to the desire of the people for continuity and sustained representation.

According to him, the people of Bende Federal Constituency believe in the leadership agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which he said he has consistently projected and deepened at the grassroots level.

“They want continuity. They want me to finish what I have started. I have not failed them since we started, and I’m not about to start now. There is still work to do,” he stated.

The Deputy Speaker pledged to continue representing the constituency selflessly through effective lawmaking and quality representation aimed at attracting federal attention and development to the area.

He also reaffirmed his support for the policies and reforms of the current administration, promising that the National Assembly would continue to provide the necessary legislative backing to ensure the success of government programmes.

“We believe in the policies that this administration has anchored the governance of this country on. We are coming back to support those policies because we know more reforms and innovations will emerge,” Kalu added.

Speaking on the forthcoming general elections, the Deputy Speaker expressed confidence in his chances, citing his achievements, political structures and experience in parliament.

“My signature is everywhere in Bende Federal Constituency. Every ward and community has felt the touch of the Renewed Hope Agenda. My work is speaking for me,” he said.

Kalu argued that replacing an experienced lawmaker with a newcomer would amount to underdevelopment for the constituency, stressing the importance of seniority and established networks in parliamentary politics.

“In parliament, there is seniority. You don’t change a winning team. If a senior is already in grade eight, you don’t replace him with someone at grade one,” he remarked.

He, however, maintained that he would not underrate opposition parties ahead of the elections, assuring that his campaign team would embark on grassroots mobilisation across communities and markets within the constituency.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Abia State National Assembly Primaries Committee, Barrister Erasmus Cishak, said the exercise was peaceful and orderly while announcing the results on Saturday night at the APC State Secretariat in Umuahia.

According to Cishak, the primary elections were conducted across the various federal constituencies in the state, with party members participating in the selection of candidates to fly the APC flag in the forthcoming general elections.

In Bende Federal Constituency, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, emerged unopposed as the party’s candidate.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and former member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, was returned unopposed as the APC candidate for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.

For Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Nkwonta emerged as the party’s candidate, while Hon. Uzor Azubuike secured the ticket for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency.

In Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Orji, emerged victorious in the party primary.

The APC also announced Hon. Uzoma Theodore Uka as the candidate for Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency.

For Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Udo Alozie clinched the party’s ticket, while Hon. Ikenna Nicholas emerged as the APC candidate for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.

He also urged aspirants who lost in the primaries to accept defeat in good faith, adding that election materials arrived around 11 a.m. after consultations with stakeholders before the commencement of the exercise.