Get Guardian on GoogleThe Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned what it described as an orchestrated attempt by alleged agents of the state government and factional Labour Party members to embarrass President Bola Tinubu and portray him as unpopular in the state.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, made the allegation in a statement titled, “The Failed Attempt by Factional Labour Party Agents to Embarrass President Tinubu Is Condemnable”.
Aguoru alleged that sponsored individuals disrupted the address of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, during a community function hosted by the people of Item in Bende Local Council of Abia State.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, is also the Deputy Director-General II (South) of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
According to Aguoru, the alleged disruption was a calculated attempt to undermine Kalu’s political standing and embarrass the President he represents.
He warned those he described as factional Labour Party agents and their alleged sponsors to desist from political disruptions and embrace democratic engagement, tolerance and responsible political participation.
The APC spokesman described the incident as an unfortunate manifestation of political desperation, accusing those involved of resorting to intimidation, manufactured hostility and disruptive tactics instead of constructive political engagement.
He claimed that credible intelligence available to the party had earlier indicated that some agents of the Abia State Government were plotting to embarrass Tinubu and Kalu at public gatherings.
Aguoru, however, said the party initially dismissed the reports, believing that the alleged plot would fail because of what he described as the genuine affection Abians had for the President and the Deputy Speaker.
He maintained that Kalu had consistently promoted Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across Abia State, including Aba and Item communities, without encountering similar hostility.
According to him, Kalu’s previous engagements had enjoyed acceptance, enthusiasm and popular support from residents.
Aguoru also argued that Tinubu had earned the confidence and appreciation of Abians through federal infrastructure projects, development interventions, strategic appointments and employment opportunities extended to the state and its people.
He attributed the interventions partly to Kalu’s commitment and advocacy, insisting that they demonstrated the President’s interest in Abia State.
The APC spokesman further maintained that Tinubu’s relationship with Kalu, whom he said the President affectionately regards as a son, remained rooted in mutual trust, loyalty and a shared commitment to national development.
He said no amount of political blackmail, intimidation or alleged sponsored embarrassment could weaken the relationship between the President and the Deputy Speaker.
Aguoru also expressed confidence in the APC’s political prospects in Abia ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He predicted that Tinubu would secure 85 per cent of votes cast in the state in the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
He also projected that Kalu would defeat the Labour Party candidate in Bende Federal Constituency, while the APC would win all three senatorial seats, eight House of Representatives seats and 24 State House of Assembly constituencies.
The spokesman further predicted that the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Eric Chinemeucheya Opah, would be inaugurated as Abia State governor on May 29, 2027.
He described the growing acceptance of the APC and Tinubu across Abia and the Southeast as evidence of the party’s political mobilisation and grassroots activities under Kalu’s leadership.
