The fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has continued to increase as members of other political parties announced their defection to the ruling party.
At the last count, over 500 members of the ruling Labour Party (LP), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Young People’s Party (YPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have joined the party in the Bende Federal Constituency of the State.
The people formally announced their defection to APC on Tuesday following the visit of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to various wards of the constituency.
Please remember that Kalu, who represents the constituency in the national assembly, commenced a tour of 13 electoral wards on Saturday, August 3, 2024, to show gratitude and learn more about their immediate needs.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said that so far, the deputy speaker has visited five wards covering Item Ward A, B, C, Ugwueke/Ezeukwu, and Itumbauzo Wards, where he welcomed more than 400 people into APC.
Kalu’s visit to Alayi Ward in the constituency on Monday evening also recorded the defection of over 100 persons from PDP, AGPA, LP, and YPP to APC.
Former PDP councillors from Alayi Ward A, Hon. Enoch Elekwa and Hon. Chukwu Udensi were among those who defected.
Others were former LP ward chairman, Hon. Jonah Chukwu; YPP ward vice chairman, Ekeoma Sylvester Eze; and former APGA local government chairman, Ndubuisi Sunday Agu.
Similarly, more than 100 persons publicly announced their defection from the PDP and other political parties to APC when Kalu visited Umuhu Ezechi Ward on Tuesday.
Speaking during the tour, a former Commissioner and Bende local government chairman who handed over to Kalu as a council chairman 22 years ago, Paul Chikezie Mba, said that the performance of the deputy speaker as a parliamentarian attracted them to APC.
Mba, a grassroots politician who had served in different ministries as a commissioner at various times in the Abia State government, also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law.
Lauding Kalu for attracting many projects to the ward, he promised massive support for APC.
Mba said: “I have looked at the efforts you’ve made. Within one year, you’ve overwhelmed Bende, Abia State and beyond. I have been a commissioner of education, lands and survey in Abia State.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, who received the people and handed them a bunch of brooms as APC’s symbol, said he was in Umuhu Ezechi to show gratitude to the people for voting him in the 2023 general election.
