Political Motives, Not Facts, Behind Allegations Against Kalu, Says Union of Igbo Youths; Rubbishes COSEYL, Others

The Union of Igbo Youths (UIY) has thrown its weight behind Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, rejecting claims by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) regarding his NYSC certificate and Nigerian Law School records as politically motivated and unfounded.

In a statement released Wednesday, signed by National President Dr. Nicholas Nwigwe and Vice President Dr. Ada Stella Okoronkwo, the UIY described COSEYL as a “group for hire” allegedly operating on behalf of undisclosed political interests. The union warned that using sponsored campaigns to undermine rising leaders from the South-East would no longer be tolerated.

The statement highlighted a 2023 NYSC verification exercise, which the UIY said confirmed Kalu’s certificate was authentic and obtained in full compliance with the NYSC Act. A senior NYSC director involved in the verification process has publicly reaffirmed the outcome. The union challenged COSEYL to produce any counter-documentation from the NYSC, a letter from its Director-General disputing the findings, or a sworn affidavit supporting its claims.

UIY also addressed reports that a petition could be lodged against Kalu at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over his Law School records. The union dismissed the prospect, insisting that the LPDC, one of Nigeria’s most respected legal regulatory institutions, would not allow itself to be used as a tool for political harassment. It called on the Nigerian Bar Association and senior legal practitioners to safeguard the committee’s integrity.

Under the section titled “COSEYL: A Group for Hire,” the union posed six direct questions to the coalition, including the identity of its funders, the existence of any official report supporting their claims, whether legal advice was sought before making allegations, and if the campaign was connected to a wider network allegedly using diverted public resources to target Kalu.

The UIY described the attacks on Kalu as driven by political fear rather than genuine accountability concerns. It noted that Kalu has not declared for any election but is being targeted due to his potential influence and track record of advancing federal attention and resources to the South-East.

Concluding the statement, the union called on Igbo youth organizations, traditional institutions, the media, and security agencies to reject the campaign, demand evidence from COSEYL, and investigate the funding behind the protests. “An attack on Benjamin Kalu at this scale is not simply an attack on one man,” the statement read. “It is an attack on the ambition of every Igbo person who dares to rise.”

COSEYL had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.