By Leonard Okachie
Umuahia, Nov. 8, 2026 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia has accused alleged Labour Party (LP) agents of disrupting an event to embarrass President Bola Tinubu.
The party alleged that the incident targeted Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, during a community function in Bende.
The APC Publicity Secretary in Abia, Mr Uche Aguoru, made the allegations in a statement issued on Sunday.
Aguoru said Kalu attended the function, hosted by people of Item in Bende Local Government Area, as Tinubu’s representative.
He alleged that sponsored individuals disrupted Kalu’s address in a calculated attempt to undermine the Deputy Speaker’s political standing.
He described the incident as evidence of political desperation, accusing those involved of resorting to intimidation and disruptive tactics.
Aguoru further alleged that the party had received intelligence about an earlier plot involving agents of the Abia Government.
According to him, the alleged plan was to embarrass both Tinubu and Kalu during the community engagement.
He said the party initially dismissed the intelligence, believing Tinubu’s popularity among Abia residents would frustrate any such attempt.
Aguoru maintained that Kalu had consistently promoted Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across Abia without encountering similar hostility.
He attributed the President’s growing acceptance in the state to federal projects, political appointments and employment opportunities.
He insisted that the alleged disruption would not undermine the relationship between Tinubu and Kalu.
“No amount of blackmail, intimidation or orchestrated hostility can weaken the relationship between Tinubu and Kalu,” Aguoru said.
He attributed the APC’s growing acceptance in Abia and the wider South-East to Kalu’s leadership and grassroots political mobilisation.
Aguoru warned those allegedly sponsoring political disruptions to desist and embrace democratic engagement, tolerance and peaceful political competition.
On the 2027 general election, the APC spokesman expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure 85 per cent of votes cast in Abia.
He also predicted that Kalu would defeat the Labour Party candidate in Bende by a wide margin.
Aguoru further projected that the APC would win all three senatorial districts, eight House of Representatives seats and 24 state assembly constituencies.
He also predicted that Dr Eric Opah would be inaugurated as Abia governor on May 29, 2027.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that political competition is intensifying in Bende Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
Kalu of the APC and Chima Anyaso of the LP are among the prominent contenders for the constituency’s House of Representatives seat. (NAN)
