The Parliamentary Advocacy Network (PAN) has cautioned individuals and organisations against what it described as attempts to blackmail political leaders, particularly the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, following the dismissal of a petition filed against him.
The warning comes after the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) threw out allegations claiming that Kalu participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) while also attending the Nigerian Law School.
The petition, submitted by John Aikpokpo Martins, accused the Deputy Speaker of professional misconduct, alleging that he undertook the two programmes simultaneously.
However, after reviewing the complaint, the LPDC concluded that the petition did not establish a prima facie case. The committee therefore ruled that there were insufficient grounds to summon or investigate Kalu over the allegations.
In a statement released on Thursday, PAN’s National Coordinator, Anderson Osiebe, commended the committee for what he described as a professional and patriotic handling of the matter.
Osiebe cautioned against the growing trend of using unsubstantiated accusations and social media campaigns to damage the reputation of public office holders, warning that such actions could weaken democratic institutions and erode confidence in political leadership.
He also criticised the petitioner and a group known as Abia Patriots for allegedly amplifying the claims on social media, urging them to refrain from what he described as unnecessary attacks on elected officials.
According to PAN, political stakeholders in Abia State should instead take pride in Kalu’s position, noting that he currently holds the highest-ranking political office occupied by a leader from Nigeria’s South-East region.
The group further encouraged critics to prioritise constructive dialogue rather than spreading allegations capable of distracting leaders from their duties.
While congratulating Kalu on the LPDC’s decision, PAN also appealed to the Deputy Speaker to extend forgiveness to those behind the petition, in keeping with the spirit of the ongoing observances of Ramadan and Lent.