The Honourable
Benjamin Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
Assumed office
13 June 2023
SpeakerTajudeen Abbas
Preceded byAhmed Idris Wase
Member of the
House of Representatives of Nigeria
from Abia
Assumed office
11 June 2019
ConstituencyBende
Personal details
NationalityNigerian
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Other political
affiliations		Peoples Democratic Party
Progressive Peoples Alliance
Residence(s)Abuja, Nigeria
OccupationPolitician

Benjamin Okezie Kalu, is a Nigerian politician who is the current deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since 2023, he won election to the position unopposed. He is representing Bende federal constituency in the House.[1]

Life, education and political career

Benjamin Okezie Kalu graduated from the University of Calabar, where he served as a student representative at twenty three years. At twenty nine years, he served as the national chapter of the PDP in diaspora. He served as the youngest local government chairman of Bende, Abia State, Nigeria at the age of thirty one. At thirty four years, he served as the senior special adviser to the then governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu on local government and chieftaincy affairs, before becoming the senior special adviser to the governor on Millennium Development Goals and international relations at the age of thirty five.[2][3][4]

Kalu started his political career in 2002 by contesting for the House of Representatives primaries and losing to Mbah Ajah. In 2011 and 2015, he contested for the House of Representatives election, representing Progressive Peoples Alliance at that time, but lost in both elections.[5][6] On 23 February 2019, Kalu, representing the ruling All Progressives Congress defeated Chima Anyaso of the People's Democratic Party and won the seat to represent Bende federal constituency, Abia State in the House of Representatives.[7][8][9][10] He received 9,138 votes, while Anyaso received 5,591 votes.[11] Anyaso rejected the result of the election and challenged the victory of Kalu in the National and State Assembly Election Petitions tribunal, citing irregularities in the election.[12][13] On 29 August 2019, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking merit and upheld the election of Kalu.[14][15] After losing at the tribunal, Anyaso appealed the case at the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division. On 28 October 2019, the Appeal court upheld Kalu's election.[16][17] Kalu is currently the spokesperson of the House of Representatives and the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.[18][19][20]

Personal life

Kalu is from Bende, Abia State, Nigeria. He is married with 5 children.

References

  1. ↑ "A First Time Legislator Who Mastered the Ropes". THISDAYLIVE. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Baiyewu, Leke (13 May 2021). "Miscreants burgle Reps spokesman's office, lawmaker laments insecurity". The Punch Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Baiyewu, Leke (14 May 2021). "Asaba Accord: Gbajabiamila didn't oppose Southern Govs, say Reps". The Punch Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Onuoha, Chris (26 May 2021). "Bringing dividends of democracy to Bende people is my political mantra – Ben Kalu". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Sampson, Okey (8 March 2019). "Orji Kalu'll not disappoint his people as senator –Ben Kalu". The Sun Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Duru, Ben (2 March 2011). "Representatives Candidate Assures on Effective Representation in Abia". The Independent Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Emeruwa, Chijindu (14 June 2019). "How I will work with Ikpeazu - Abia lawmaker, Kalu". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Anyaso wins PDP's House of Rep seat for Bende Fed". Vanguard Newspaper. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Urowayino, Jeremiah (12 February 2019). "Bende Federal Constituency: Anyaso expresses confidence of PDP's Victory". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Udeajah, Gordi (18 May 2021). "PDP charts new path to recover Bende federal constituency seat from APC". The Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Okoli, Anayo (24 February 2019). "Orji Kalu wins Abia North seat, Onyejiocha wins Reps". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "BREAKING: Benjamin Kalu defeats Chima Anyaso at tribunal". ABN TV. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Kalu upbeat on victory at election tribunal". Blueprint Newspaper. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "Anyaso vs. Kalu: Tribunal fixes date for judgment in Abia". The Eagle Online. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Reactions trail victory of Hon. Benjamin Kalu at tribunal (Photos+Video)". ABN TV. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ben Kalu Reacts To Appeal Court Verdict, Says "I Will Do More For My constituents & My State Govt."". ABN TV. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. ↑ Okogba, Emmanuel (29 October 2019). "Election Tribunal: Anyaso congratulates Kalu, assures of collective effort to uplift Bende". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Nwabughiogu, Levinus (12 March 2021). "House of Representatives is broke — Spokesman". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Akpan, Samuel (9 February 2021). "Reps spokesman: Many lawmakers are suffering due to pressure from constituents". TheCable. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  20. ↑ "No crack in House of Reps - Spokesman". The Punch Newspaper. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
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