A prominent Igbo youth organisation, Youth Renaissance for Good Governance, has dismissed allegations against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, regarding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate and Nigerian Law School records.

The group described the claims by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) as false and misleading, insisting there is no credible evidence to support the allegations.

In a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Ebekuo Madu, and National Secretary, Paul Nwachukwu, the group said the report circulated by COSEYL contained “enormous falsehood” and urged the group to disclose the source of what it described as an “indicting report.”

“We wish to place before the Nigerian public and all well-meaning citizens of the South-East the irrefutable fact that there exists no credible, official, or verified report indicting the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu,” the statement said.

The youth organisation said a verification exercise carried out by the NYSC in 2023 had already addressed the issue surrounding Kalu’s certificate. According to the group, a senior official of the scheme who participated in the process confirmed that the certificate was validly issued.

The group added that the NYSC had provided a verification letter confirming that Kalu obtained his certificate in line with the provisions of the NYSC Act.

It also dismissed the possibility of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) entertaining any petition related to the allegations.

According to the statement, the LPDC would not entertain what it described as “an infantile and politically motivated petition built on fabricated allegations,” stressing that the committee’s responsibilities were too important to be used for political purposes.

The group further alleged that the accusations were driven by political interests in Abia State, claiming that Kalu’s growing political influence had unsettled some individuals.

“Rt. Hon. Kalu has not even declared any intention to run for the governorship of Abia State, yet these desperate forces are so terrified of his potential that they have resorted to hiring proxies,” the statement said.

Youth Renaissance for Good Governance also argued that attacks on the credentials of prominent South-East politicians had become a recurring feature during election cycles.

It urged COSEYL to focus on issues affecting young people in the region rather than engage in what it described as political vendettas.

The group also noted that some South-East youths were considering organising a solidarity rally in support of the Deputy Speaker.