“Stop Insulting Ndigbo, Rigging Won’t Work in 2027” — ADC Chieftain Warns Kalu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Comrade Adolphus Ude, has cautioned the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, against what he described as any attempt to undermine the will of voters in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ude issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday, reacting to comments credited to Kalu in Abia State last Sunday, where the Deputy Speaker urged Igbo voters to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, arguing that votes should be “strategic” and not “wasted.”

Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, reportedly advised voters in the region to be pragmatic in their political choices, saying electoral support should be directed where it could yield political dividends.

In response, Ude, who is also the National Coordinator of ADC Like-Minds, said the South-East would resist any form of electoral manipulation in 2027. He described Kalu’s remarks as inappropriate and dismissive of the political rights of Ndigbo.

According to Ude, the Deputy Speaker’s comments implied a predetermined outcome for the 2027 elections, an impression he said was unacceptable in a democratic setting. He challenged Kalu to clarify his position and urged him to respect the electorate’s freedom to choose their leaders.

Ude also called on Kalu to refrain from what he termed disparaging comments about Igbo voters and to instead account for his contributions to Abia State and the South-East since assuming office as Deputy Speaker.

On Kalu’s reported call for political alliances between the South-East and South-West, Ude rejected the idea, arguing that historical experiences did not support such a position. He cited events surrounding and following the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, including post-war economic policies, as well as more recent political developments, as reasons for his stance.

The ADC chieftain further raised concerns about what he described as continued marginalisation of the South-East, pointing to issues such as infrastructure distribution, the location of major seaports, and the exclusion of the region from key federal projects. He also criticised Kalu’s silence on the demolition of properties owned by Igbo residents in Lagos after the 2023 elections, as well as the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.

Ude maintained that his group does not support secession but believes that some national issues, including Kanu’s case, require political solutions rather than prolonged incarceration.

He concluded by stating that the South-East should not be pressured to support President Tinubu in 2027, alleging that the current administration has deepened the region’s sense of exclusion through appointments and project allocation.

Separately, Ude called for transparency in the forthcoming governorship election in Enugu State, insisting that the process must reflect the will of the people. He warned that residents could not afford another government that would impose additional economic burdens on them.