Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
…Urges Urgent Help from NEMA, SEMA Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has expressed deep concern over the devastating flood in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu communities in Bende Local Government Area which also constitutes Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State. Reports indicate that two persons lost their lives after two days of torrential rainfall that submerged many homes, including the palaces of two traditional rulers, Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai community in the federal constituency. In a statement, Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency, described the incident…
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State, has said that the claim by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC),that Senator Nkechi Nwaogu (our own Mama APC) is a member of their party is false. Abia APC said that for the purposes of clarity and to put the records straight, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu remains a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Uche Aguoru, Publicity Secretary APC, Abia State, said that Senator Nwaogu purchased the APC Senate nomination form and participated in the APC Senatorial Primary Election held on the 18th day of May 2026. According to Aguoru,Senator Nwaogu scored 12,033…
The Supreme Court has upheld electoral provisions governing political party membership registers and candidate nomination, a development with potential consequences for disputed nominations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, September 24, 2026, allows an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission against an earlier Court of Appeal decision favouring the Zenith Labour Party. A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro set aside the appellate decision and upheld the trial court’s judgment. The apex court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the ZLP. (tvcnews.tv) The litigation concerned Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of…
RC, Ochubara dike Ohia, Writes from Ozuitem. Development does not happen by wishful thinking. It happens when leadership moves from promises to projects, from plans to implementation, and from political rhetoric to measurable results. This is the logic behind what can be described as Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s radical approach to the aggressive development of Bende Federal Constituency. The approach is characterised by an emphasis on visible infrastructure and interventions across multiple sectors. Ben Kalu’s official project record lists roads, classroom blocks, agricultural initiatives, medical outreach, empowerment programmes and other community interventions across Bende Federal Constituency. A constituency is developed…
The people of the Ahiaba Ubi community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area have expressed gratitude to the Abia State commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, for the prosecution of Chukwudi Eguzowa, a 49-year-old man suspected to be a notorious drug kingpin. The community equally thanked the Commander of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Abia State, CSP Oracle Emeka and CSP Obinna Omenihu of the VCRU Olokoro Unit with other officers who made sure that the drug kingpin was prosecuted and remanded as the case continues. As gathered, the hearing of the case has been adjourned, and the…
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved the appointment of 101 persons as Special Advisers (SPAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs): SPECIAL ADVISERS (SPAs) 1. Chief S.N.C. Nwagu — Special Adviser on Conflict Resolution and Mediation 2. Hon. Dr. Fidelis Odo — Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs and Co-ordination 3. Augustine Okoli — Special Adviser on Policy Affairs and Analysis 4. Hon. Pedro Nwankwo — Special Adviser on Stakeholders Relations and Community Affairs 5. Chimezie Nkwuo — Special Adviser on Economic Development 6. Chief Vitalis Okonkwo — Special Adviser on Grassroot Coordination 7. Peter…
The people of the Bende Federal Constituency in Abia have said that the re-election of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is non-negotiable because while others were busy displaying empowerment without a foundation, Kalu was busy training, equipping, and funding thousands of young people to become entrepreneurs who will, in turn, build businesses that will sustain their families and grow the economy of Bende. Trooping out in their numbers for a recent solidarity march, the constituents said that the only thing currently delaying the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives’ re-election is the fact that the election has not…
The Ahiaba Ubi community in the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State have called on the Abia State Police Command to ensure that Mr Chukwudi AKA Evergreen is prosecuted for an alleged involvement in illicit drug peddling. DrumAfricanews reports that some indigenous people of Ahiaba Ubi, under the aegis of ‘concerned citizen of Ahiaba Ubi’, approached newsmen in Aba Monday, 21st September, 2026, alleging that the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Olokoro, on Thursday, 17th September, 2026, arrested a notorious drug kingpin that has been terrorising their community. According to them, they have been crying and writing…
…says her support for Women, families, vulnerable citizens are highly commendable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has felicitated the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on her 66th birthday, describing her as the Mother of the Nation. In his congratulatory message, Kalu lauded Senator Tinubu for her service to the nation, describing her as a mother figure whose leadership exemplifies compassion at its peak. He commended her interventions across the federation, particularly her commitment to women empowerment, support for families and vulnerable citizens, and investment in young Nigerians, noting that she has brought a profoundly…
…a Chronicle of Parliamentary Diplomacy By Sam Hart There is a certain kind of representation that begins at home but refuses to be confined by geography. It begins with a constituency, in this case, Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, but expands into the national arena, across Africa and ultimately into the rooms where legislators from around the world debate peace, trade, development, security and the future of multilateralism. That is the international parliamentary journey of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ph.D, CFR, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Bende’s representative in Nigeria’s…