By Steve Oko

Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, former Minority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly, and a close ally of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has debunked speculations that the Deputy Speaker is plotting to unseat Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu representing Abia North senatorial district in 2027.

Chukwu who spoke with newsmen in Umuahia, accused an Aide of the former Governor of masterminding the “mischievous speculation” intended to portray the Deputy Speaker in a bad light.

Hon. Chukwu who claimed he had served both the former Governor and the Deputy Speaker, insisted that the peddling of the speculation had the tacit approval of the former Governor.

He said:”The Deputy Speaker believes in destiny and the act of God. He does not believe in rumour and speculation. He is a very focused and grassroot politician that knows his onions.

“I can tell you categorically clear that no aide from the Deputy Speaker made that statement, it’s an aide from Igbere, a mischievous aide, not of the Deputy Speaker but of a former governor, and that statement, that publication was made with the express knowledge of the former governor. I can tell you that, I have served the Deputy Speaker, I have served the former governor and I know their modus operandi and I can tell you who does what.”

Chukwu who urged members of the public to discountenance the”mischievous speculation”, said that the Deputy Speaker “is much occupied and busy with his legislative duties at the House of Representatives.”

He also explained that “it is too early for anyone to think that Rt. Hon Ben kalu would make any hasty decision as regards his 2027 ambition two years ahead as Kalu believes in destiny and act of God.”

According to him, the Deputy Speaker “is from a big political family and as such, if he wants to make decisions on his ambition for 2027, it would be a collective decision to be made by his political family.”

Chukwu further said the major preoccupation of the Deputy Speaker “is how to succeed in the big office he currently occupies”.

He added that the Deputy Speaker would consult widely before making public his next political ambition.