“I Can Now Step In, Now That Nnamdi Kanu Has Been Convicted”, —Benjamin Kalu, Groups Kick

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu has come under heavy criticism for his comment about Nnamdi Kanu.

A Civil Society Group, Abia Coalition For Justice and Equity and an APC support group, APC Grassroot Volunteers berated the Deputy Speaker over his statement that he could only step in now that the court has convicted the separatist leader, Nnamdi.

The Deputy Speaker in a press statement on Thursday, November 20, 2025 said he could then step in and seek a political solution to secure the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, now that the court had convicted him.

He said “It is now time to explore political solutions that had been hindered because the matter was before the court. But now that the court has finished, it is time to intensify request for the President’s intervention and we are sure that the President is not averse to it. We are going to get it. All hope is not lost. Our people should remain calm.”

In a statement jointly signed by the Publicity Secretary of APC Grassroot Volunteers, Comrade Egbe Maduka and Comrade Okwute Otuonye, the Convener of Abia Coalition For Justice and Equity, the groups expressed dismay that after several promises and claims by the Deputy Speaker that he was working underground to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s release, Hon. Benjamin Kalu reversed to say he would step in after the court had sentenced the separatist leader.

According to the groups, Hon. Benjamin Kalu should hide his face in shame after the “No.6” mantra and claims of being the most powerful politician from the South East.

They questioned why Hon. Benjamin Kalu would be parading himself as No. 6, and making public statements of his efforts in securing the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The groups were of the opinion that the Deputy Speaker played with the emotions of the people of the South East with fake promises only for him to turn into a political tool to seek political relevance.

The groups expressed deep concern that political leaders form the South East were not able to do enough to prevail on the President, Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu until this day.

They called on the people not to be deceived by the Deputy Speaker or the president’s antics of trying to use Nnamdi Kanu as what they called “political bait” aimed at gaining the support of the South East in 2027 elections.