Premium Times reported that Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of Nigeria’s lower house, encountered significant resistance while campaigning for President Bola Tinubu in Abia State. The incident occurred on Saturday during the Item Okpi Festival, a cultural event in the Bende Local Government Area. Kalu, who represents the Bende Federal Constituency, sought to rally support for the president’s 2027 re-election bid. Instead of applause, the audience responded with persistent chants for Peter Obi, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The deputy speaker attempted to silence the crowd, but the chanting intensified. Kalu asked in Igbo if the attendees still wanted the university Tinubu promised to build in their region. He also suggested that the protesters were not locals from Item. An unidentified woman on stage initially sang a pro-government song, but the crowd ignored it. Another woman began a song supporting Obi, prompting Kalu to ask her to switch to a pro-Tinubu tune. She complied, yet the audience continued to shout Obi’s name as Kalu moved to the front of the stage.
The clash reflects the complex political dynamics in Abia. Kalu belongs to the All Progressives Congress, while Governor Alex Otti leads the Labour Party. Premium Times noted that Otti is a political ally of Obi, having served alongside him in the Labour Party before Obi’s departure. Although Otti supports Tinubu as president, his party has its own presidential candidate. This divergence between federal and state-level allegiances appears to have influenced the crowd’s reaction to Kalu’s presence.
The event underscores the challenges facing the ruling party in securing local support. Kalu’s frustration was evident as he struggled to gain traction. The crowd’s unwavering support for Obi suggests that local political identities remain strong. This incident provides insight into the upcoming election landscape in Abia State, where federal campaigns may face resistance from entrenched local loyalties.