The South East chapter of the All Progressives Congress has formally requested President Bola Tinubu to revisit recent appointments made to the South East Development Commission.
In a letter signed by Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman for the South East, the party acknowledged the President’s commitment to the development of the region, including the establishment of the SEDC.
However, the APC raised concerns about the composition of the Commission’s board and management, arguing that it does not align with the SEDC’s founding Act. Specifically, the party pointed to the involvement of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, claiming he played a role in shaping the appointments to benefit his personal staff.
According to the APC, five individuals from Kalu’s team were appointed, while other key states, such as Imo and Ebonyi, were reportedly left out of the selection process. Several members of the House of Representatives have expressed frustration, accusing Kalu of acting in his own interest, which goes against the party’s goal of ensuring a fair distribution of positions across all South East states, according to NaijaNews.
These lawmakers voiced disappointment over Kalu’s disregard for collective advice aimed at achieving equitable representation.
The South East APC also criticized the inclusion of individuals from opposition parties in the SEDC, pointing out that there are numerous qualified technocrats within the APC who were overlooked. The letter concluded with a plea to the President to reconsider the appointments to ensure they comply with the legal framework of the Commission, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize the support of APC loyalists in the South East.
