S/East Group Defends Deputy Speaker Kalu Against NYSC Certificate Blackmail Allegations
The South East Progressive Forum has strongly dismissed allegations against Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, concerning purported discrepancies between his NYSC discharge certificate and Law School results, labeling them as cheap blackmail attempts. In a statement released on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the group called upon Nigerian security agencies to identify and investigate those allegedly sponsoring these media attacks against the deputy speaker.
Media Attacks Traced to Abia Government Influence
The Forum warned individuals being sponsored to propagate negative narratives against Kalu on social media platforms, asserting that no amount of blackmail would distract him from his legislative duties for Bende Federal Constituency and the Nigerian populace. The group emphasized Kalu's significant political standing, noting that he emerged as Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives in June 2023 with overwhelming support from 359 other members, making him the highest political figure from Nigeria's southeast region under the current administration.
However, the Forum lamented that Kalu's tenure has faced persistent media attacks and criticisms, particularly from his home state of Abia, where Labour Party Governor Alex Otti holds office. The latest controversy centers on allegations of an overlap between Kalu's NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus.
Abia Patriots Accused of Orchestrating Attacks
The South East Progressive Forum specifically accused a group called Abia Patriots of leading these social media campaigns against the deputy speaker. According to the Forum, one Mr. John Aipkopko Martins reportedly submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee, requesting investigation into what they termed 'fraudulent enrolment' on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Chief Ihuoma Okoronkwo, spokesperson for the South East Progressive Forum, dismissed these allegations as sponsored attempts to dent their own brother. The Forum expressed serious concerns about Abia Patriots' activities since 2024, suggesting they operate under the direction of the Abia state government.
Everybody in Abia knows that the group, which was not registered anywhere before now, was conscripted to attack the Deputy Speaker in 2024, the statement declared. If you Google Abia Patriots, the only things you would see about them are those attacks on Benjamin Kalu. Curiously, too, the same group sees nothing wrong in whatever Alex Otti does as governor; rather, they are on social media praising him every day.
Forum Urges Kalu to Remain Focused
The Forum encouraged Deputy Speaker Kalu not to allow any individuals or groups from his home state to discourage him from implementing his development plans for the Igbo community and Nigerians nationwide. Okoronkwo emphasized that Kalu represents not only Bende Federal Constituency but all 360 federal constituencies as a Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives.
What the jobless miscreants and their paymaster don't know is that Kalu is not only representing Bende Federal Constituency, but he has the entire 360 Federal Constituencies at hand, Okoronkwo stated. This local politics would only provoke him to look elsewhere in the other Constituencies, which the people of Abia would suffer.
The Forum highlighted Kalu's legislative achievements, noting his recent recognition as Lawmaker of the Year for sponsoring 127 bills within two years—a record-breaking accomplishment in Nigerian parliamentary history. They described him as one of Nigeria's finest parliamentarians, respected by colleagues and celebrated nationwide for his developmental projects across the southeast and Nigeria.
Addressing the NYSC Certificate Allegations
Regarding the specific allegations about NYSC and Law School certificate overlaps, the Forum called for calm, expressing confidence that the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee would professionally address the petition. They explained that such overlaps sometimes occur in professional careers, similar to situations where individuals might pursue NYSC service concurrently with postgraduate studies.
What some people don't know is that, like Medical Doctors, Lawyers sometimes have overlap between their NYSC and Professional certificates, the statement clarified. In fact, some would be mobilised for NYSC and their Law School admission would come out the next month, and they would not want to miss the opportunity, so they enrol.
The Forum pointed out that Kalu presented himself for elections in both 2019 and 2023, receiving clearance from INEC and winning both contests. They expressed confidence that the disciplinary committee would conduct its investigation impartially, without compromise from any governmental influence.
These miscreants can not be more knowledgeable than INEC, or the professional body that enrolled Benjamin Kalu as a Lawyer and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the statement concluded. We believe the disciplinary committee would do its work perfectly, and no Governor can compromise that. They are professionals.
