The South East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally written to President Bola Tinubu requesting a review of recent appointments made to the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
In the letter signed by Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, the APC’s National Vice Chairman for the South East, the party expressed appreciation for the President’s focus on the region’s development, including the establishment of the SEDC.
However, concerns were raised over the composition of the Commission’s board and management, which the APC claims does not conform to the SEDC’s founding Act.
The party specifically called out the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, alleging that he influenced the appointments to favor his personal staff.
Five individuals from Kalu’s team were appointed, while key states like Imo and Ebonyi were reportedly excluded from the selection process.
There are also claims from other members of the House of Representatives that Kalu’s actions were self-serving and in contradiction to the party’s desire for a fair allocation of positions across all South East states.
These members expressed disappointment at Kalu’s disregard for the collective advice aimed at equitable representation.
Moreover, the South East APC criticized the inclusion of individuals from opposition parties in the Commission, despite the presence of many qualified technocrats within the APC.
The letter concluded with an appeal to the President to revisit the appointments and ensure they adhere to the Commission’s legal framework, warning that failure to do so may undermine the support of APC loyalists in the South East.