Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has issued a strongly worded rebuttal to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, rejecting claims that the former governor played a role in launching his political career.
In a detailed statement, Benjamin Kalu described the assertion as “a lie,” outlining his early political involvement long before his encounter with the senator. He said he had served as a diaspora leader within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attending national conventions and engaging party structures independently.
Kalu also referenced recognition he received during the administration of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, including an allocation of land in Abuja, which he said came without any connection to Orji Uzor Kalu.
According to him, their first meeting was facilitated through a formal introduction by a senior PDP official, contradicting the claim that he was politically mentored or sponsored by the senator.
The deputy speaker went further, recounting a series of political disagreements and setbacks he attributed to Orji Uzor Kalu. These included disputes over party primaries, aborted appointments, and what he described as repeated efforts to undermine his political ambitions.
Kalu alleged that despite his own support for the senator’s re-election bid in 2003 — including financial contributions and campaign mobilisation — the relationship later deteriorated into rivalry marked by mistrust and political manoeuvring.
He also accused the senator of backing opposing candidates in subsequent elections, including during his bids for the House of Representatives, actions he said contradicted claims of political sponsorship.
The statement reflects a deepening rift between the two politicians from Abia State, highlighting longstanding tensions and competing narratives over influence, loyalty and political legacy.
Neither Orji Uzor Kalu nor his representatives have publicly responded to the latest remarks.
