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.

Kalu disclosed this at his residence in Bende Local Government Area on Friday, where he dismissed reports suggesting that he was blocking Otti from joining the APC, describing such claims as false narratives being pushed by political interests uncomfortable with ongoing realignments in Abia politics.

Addressing the allegation directly, the Deputy Speaker said the suggestion that he was working against Otti’s entry into the APC was unfounded.

“Even the narrative that I want to block him from coming to APC is not true. If I was self-centered, I would have blocked him, but here I am the one inviting him,” Kalu said.

Otti has, however, on several occasions publicly stated that he has no intention of joining the APC, maintaining his position clearly and consistently.

The governor has often drawn inspiration from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that Tinubu spent many years as the leader of the opposition before eventually becoming President of Nigeria, an example Otti uses to explain why remaining outside the ruling party does not weaken a leader’s relevance or effectiveness.

This position has continued to fuel public discussion around political alignment and opposition politics in the country.

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.

The development, he noted, was part of efforts to reposition the APC ahead of future elections in the state.

Kalu also used the occasion to clarify speculations surrounding his political future, stating that his primary focus remains development, particularly in Bende Federal Constituency, rather than the pursuit of executive office.

“ Any decision about future ambition would be left to the APC and the people of Abia State, not personal calculations,” the Deputy Speaker maintained.

He further renewed his call for the creation of an additional state in the South-East, describing it as a necessary step toward equity, unity and national balance.

Kalu also dismissed reports that federal road projects he attracted to Bende had been abandoned, insisting that work was ongoing despite visible delays. (The PUNCH)