ABUJA — The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, vowing to mobilize the massive Igbo voting bloc to deliver a clean sweep for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the APC National Secretariat on Friday, February 13, 2026, Kalu—the highest-ranking elective officeholder from the South East—declared that he has the “political muscle” to shift the loyalties of Ndigbo in the capital city.
The “Inclusion” Argument
Kalu, who serves as the Secretary of the APC’s 138-member National Campaign Council, argued that the Igbo community can no longer afford to sit on the fringes of power. He insisted that his own position in the National Assembly is living proof that President Bola Tinubu has given the South East a “seat at the high table.”
“I have the capacity. I will mobilize all Igbos in the FCT to vote for the APC,” Kalu stated with confidence. “We are going to tell our people that the era of emotional voting is over. We must align with the center to ensure that our businesses and our interests in the FCT are protected.”
Abuja Igbos Fire Back: “We are Not Political Goods”
However, Kalu’s “capacity” to deliver the Igbo vote is already being met with fierce resistance from community leaders and residents in Abuja. For many Igbos in the FCT, the memories of the 2023 general elections—where the Labour Party (LP) swept the territory—remain fresh.
“The Deputy Speaker is dreaming if he thinks he can just ‘mobilize’ us like cattle,” said Chief Emeka Uzor, an Abuja-based businessman and member of an Igbo socio-cultural group. “What has the APC government done for the Igbo trader in Garki or Wuse market other than multiple taxes and a crashing Naira? You cannot ignore our suffering and then show up three days to an election talking about ‘capacity.'”
Other criticisms surfacing from the Igbo community include:
- The “Obedient” Factor:Â Many young Igbo professionals in the FCT maintain that their loyalty remains with the “third force” movement, arguing that the APC has not addressed the fundamental issues of equity and security.
- Demolition Fears:Â Residents in satellite towns like Kuje and Nyanya expressed bitterness over recent demolitions carried out by the FCT Administration, which they claim have disproportionately affected Igbo-owned small businesses.
- “Stomach Infrastructure”:Â Activists on social media have accused Kalu of playing “stomach infrastructure” politics, suggesting he is more interested in pleasing the Presidency than representing the true heartbeat of the South East.
The High-Stakes Battle for the FCT
The FCT Area Council elections, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, are seen as a litmus test for the APC’s popularity in the heart of Nigeria. After losing the FCT to the opposition in 2023, the ruling party is desperate for a comeback.
Kalu’s strategy involves a door-to-door campaign across all 68 wards, focusing on the “Renewed Hope” infrastructure projects led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. But as the rhetoric heats up, the question remains: Can a high-ranking title in Abuja bridge the widening gap between the ruling party and a deeply skeptical Igbo electorate?
