Politics
Ben Kalu’s Call on Otti to APC: ABN TV vs Spin 95.3 FM – The Double Tales of a Single Story
A recent interview granted by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has sparked controversy due to conflicting reports from two media outlets, ABN TV and Spin 95.3 FM.
During the interview on ABN TV, Kalu discussed his friendship with Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the possibility of him joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kalu stated: “Alex Otti has been my friend for a very long time… every governor in Abia State has always received my support… But we have to push the interest of our party to take over the state.”
However, Spin 95.3 FM allegedly distorted the original interview, misinforming the public.
Their version quoted Kalu as saying: “I will not be the number 6 citizen of the country and another party will govern my state…
“APC will determine who will become the next governor of Abia state… I have told him in person, I have told him publicly that the APC governor will be next in Abia state.”
In response, Kalu threatened a lawsuit against Spin 95.3 FM, prompting the radio station to release a statement claiming they did not interview the Deputy Spokesman nor produce, air, or post the interview.
They alleged that they obtained the video from ABN TV’s social media platforms and credited them when posting it on their TikTok page.
However, ABN TV countered with a statement challenging Spin 95.3 FM to reproduce the part of their watermarked video that matches the content shared.
They stated that they granted the interview to the Deputy Speaker, which was posted on their Facebook and YouTube pages.
They challenged Spin FM to explain how their watermark disappeared in the content shared and how they ended up stamping their watermark on content they never originally produced.
ABN also asked Spin Fm to explain how they got the strange part they edited into the authorised interview, that was not an original part of the interview which ABN originally released before the last protest .
This incident highlights the growing dangers of misinformation in the media, where false or distorted information is spread, often with serious consequences.
In this case, the distorted interview has led to confusion and controversy, damaging the reputation of the Deputy Speaker and the media outlets involved.
The Deputy speaker currently on holidays refused to comment stating that his lawyers the office of K C Nwufor SAN are currently writing them and will be advising him on his available rights against all the parties and media platforms that published without due verification, in view of our extant laws cyber crimes of this nature .
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied allegations of defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party.
In a statement signed by Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, the Assembly members refuted rumors circulating online, claiming that 25 members were planning to leave APC for an unnamed political party. A similar claim surfaced recently, suggesting that 27 members were considering joining the Labour Party due to leadership disputes within the Assembly.
Ogundipe stated that these claims had been unequivocally refuted, with members expressing their unwavering commitment to APC and their confidence in resolving internal issues through established party mechanisms.
“To avoid any confusion, no APC member of the Lagos State House of Assembly is considering defection. As true progressives, we acknowledge that challenges may arise, but we remain committed to addressing them through democratic and lawful processes,” he said.
He added that the party leadership is fully engaged, and any outstanding issues would be resolved amicably. Ogundipe urged the public to disregard the baseless reports designed to mislead and create unnecessary tension.
“We reaffirm our loyalty to the leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogundipe concluded, emphasizing that the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue focusing on its legislative duties, enacting laws that promote the development of Lagos State.
Finally, he advised those spreading falsehoods to desist, reaffirming the Assembly’s dedication to its legislative mandate.
The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting that he is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku’s camp described the rumors as baseless and misleading.
“We have observed that some news platforms are peddling unverified information that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.
The former vice president’s media team clarified that Atiku remains committed to the PDP and is actively working on forming a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“Atiku is advocating a robust coalition that would accommodate all opposition parties – the PDP inclusive,” the statement added. “It is fallacious and unfounded to allege that the Waziri is jumping the PDP ship.”
The statement further emphasized that Atiku’s focus remains on uniting opposition forces to “rescue Nigeria from the grip of the APC.”
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has been vocal about the need for a strong opposition alliance to counter what he describes as the failures of the current administration.
The media office urged Nigerians to disregard speculations about Atiku’s defection, reaffirming that he remains a committed member of the PDP.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted the indirect primary method for selecting its candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election. This decision was announced by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Bashiru stated that the decision aligns with the position of the Anambra State chapter of the APC. He also confirmed that the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC will meet with aspirants and stakeholders next Tuesday to finalize the modalities for the primary. Dismissing speculations that the party had already endorsed a preferred candidate, Bashiru emphasized that all seven aspirants remain in contention.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing concerns over its inability to attract aspirants for the Anambra governorship race. With the deadline for the sale of nomination forms fast approaching, no candidate has yet purchased the party’s N40 million expression of interest and nomination forms.
The PDP had recently expressed confidence in reclaiming Anambra, following a peaceful zonal congress in Enugu, where party leaders unanimously re-elected the Ali Odefa-led executive. However, reports indicate that high costs and internal crises within the party are discouraging aspirants.
With uncertainty surrounding the PDP, aspirants are now turning to alternative platforms such as the APC, Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for their governorship ambitions.
As the election race intensifies, political observers will be watching to see how the PDP resolves its internal challenges and whether the APC’s chosen primary process will unify or divide its ranks.
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