Item Community apologises to Kalu over festival disruption

The Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, has condemned the disruption of a speech by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, at the Item Cultural Festival in Aba, Abia State.

The association also dissociated the Item community in Aba from the incident and tendered an unreserved apology to the Deputy Speaker over the embarrassment caused by the conduct of some individuals at the event.

The cultural festival was held at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Item is a major community in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, comprising three of the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.

The community members resident in Aba had invited Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, to the event.

Despite having spent the day in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, attending the APC presidential campaign rally, the Deputy Speaker proceeded to Aba to honour the invitation.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of IDA, Aba Branch, Chief David Kalu Uduma, and its Secretary, Sunday Peter Iroegbu, the association described the disruption as the handiwork of mischief makers.

It regretted that the cultural event was politicised, insisting that those who engaged in  political chants did not represent the Item community.

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“The leadership of Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, on behalf of the entire Item community in Aba, wishes to dissociate itself from the unfortunate incident that occurred during the speech of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ph.D, CFR, at the Item Cultural Festival held at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, on Saturday, 7th November 2026.

“We categorically condemn the unruly conduct of a few persons, which we consider the handiwork of mischief makers, and sincerely regret the embarrassment it caused.

“The people of Item are peace-loving, cultured and respectful of constituted authority. Such conduct does not reflect our values or represent the character of our people,” the statement said.

The association also expressed appreciation for Kalu’s conduct during the incident, describing his response as statesmanlike.

“We therefore tender our unreserved apologies to the Distinguished Deputy Speaker and deeply appreciate his statesmanlike disposition in the face of the unfortunate incident,” the statement added.