Benjamin Okezie Kalu is a Nigerian politician who is currently serving as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since 2023. He represents the Bende federal constituency.

Benjamin Okezie Kalu was born on 5 May 1971 in Agbamuzu, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. He holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, a Master of Law in terrorism and international humanitarian law (distinction), and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar.

Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his studies at the Nigeria Law School in Enugu State, Nigeria. In 2025, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in public policy and strategic studies from the University of Abuja with the thesis titled Government Capacity to Integrate International Climate Adaptation Strategies and Policies in Nigeria.

Additionally, Kalu has obtained several certifications in Migration and Human Rights from John Cabot University, Italy; Illicit Trade from the University of Groningen, Netherlands; Governance and Development from Miami Herbert Business School, Miami University, USA; Environmental Crimes from the UNICRI, Italy; and International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIARB) at the University of Oxford, UK.

Kalu's political career began in 2002 when he contested for the House of Representatives primaries. He served as the Local Government Chairman (Transition) for Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, and held various advisory roles to the then Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu. He has also served as the National Chapter President of the Peoples Democracy Party in Diaspora, the youngest Local Government Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, and Senior Special Adviser to Theodore Orji on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State.

Re-elected in 2023, Kalu is currently the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. His roles in the 10th Assembly include chairman of the Constitution Review and Amendment Committee. As the spokesperson of the 9th Assembly, he proposed and supported various bills, motions, and acts, including the Acts Authentication Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.

He currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on the review of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. Kalu is the convener of the Peace in the South East Project (PISE), which aims to resolve insecurity in the South East Region using non-kinetic means. He also led the Sudan Darfur Project in Australia for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, focusing on fundraising and refugee orientation.

He is the founder of the Benjamin Kalu Foundation. Kalu is married and has five children.

Party Positions

Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.

Security & Defense

Enhances compensation, medical care, housing support, scholarships, stipends, and health insurance for military personnel injured in duty and their families.

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Governance & Reform

Commits to amending Nigeria’s governance architecture through constitutional review and collaboration with the National Assembly and State Governments to grant States greater autonomy over critical matters like crime prevention, prisons, stamp duties, and taxation.

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Economy & Trade

Reforms the Federal Budgetary Methodology to move away from oil revenue dependence and base spending on projected growth, establishing an inflationary ceiling to optimize fiscal policy without causing excessive inflation.

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Infrastructure

Launches a National Infrastructure Campaign to modernize national infrastructure by hiring millions of unemployed Nigerians through the fiscal flexibility gained from reforming budgetary methodology.

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Agriculture

Will encourage local farmers to form farm cooperatives, enabling them to pool resources for modern farming equipment, fertiliser, and access priority government agricultural assistance programs (extension services), with tax breaks and credits.

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Environment & Climate

Will **reduce Nigeria’s gas flaring** by removing it from the top 10 countries with highest flares, aiming to maximize sector benefits while eliminating environmental harm.

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Anti-corruption

Curb reliance on imported goods via luxury taxes, higher tariffs, and processing fees while incentivizing local manufacturing with tax credits/rebates.

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Enterprise grant support

Provides tax credits, holidays, and reduced interest rate loans for businesses that hire a specified percentage of youth in their workforce and offer on-the-job training.

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Energy

Will increase Nigeria’s domestic crude oil production to **2.6 million barrels per day by 2027** and **4 million barrels per day by 2030**, while implementing a Special Enforcement and Monitoring Unit to deter theft, vandalism, and pipeline breaches using drones and aerial surveillance.

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Education

Introduces a new management system for federally funded primary and secondary schools via Boards of Education, reserving community representation in decision-making.

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Healthcare

Will strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure with incentive schemes, counterpart funding programs, and grassroots preventative care (vaccinations, cancer screening, blood pressure monitoring) in collaboration with state/local governments.

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Technology & Digital

Establishment of an advisory committee to review and reform regulatory frameworks for blockchain technology and virtual asset services.

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Reliefs and scholarships

Provides **conditional income support** to very poor households, tied to human capital development goals like high-school attendance, healthcare, and nutrition.

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Follow the 2027 race

Who declares, who drops out, who switches party: sourced, not speculation.

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