Harvest For APC As Over 100 Opposition Party Members Cross-Carpets In Abia

• Deputy Speaker Continues Tour Of Constituency Wards

Members of other political parties announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State on Monday increasing the party’s membership.
At last count, more than 500 people from the ruling Labour Party (LP), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Young People’s Party (YPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had joined the party in the state’s Bende Federal Constituency.
On Tuesday, following a visit to various wards of the constituency by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, the people formally announced their defection to the APC.
Recall that Kalu, the constituency’s National Assembly representative, began a tour of 13 electoral wards on Saturday to express gratitude and learn more about their immediate needs.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker has visited five wards, including Item Wards A, B, and C, as well as Ugwueke/Ezeukwu and Itumbauzo Wards, and has welcomed over 400 people into the APC.
On Monday evening, Kalu visited Alayi Ward in the constituency, where over 100 people had defected from the PDP, AGPA, LP, and YPP to the APC.
Hon. Enoch Elekwa and Chukwu Udensi, former PDP councillors from Alayi Ward A, were among those who defected.
Others included Hon. Jonah Chukwu, former LP ward chairman; Ekeoma Sylvester Eze, YPP ward vice chairman; and Ndubuisi Sunday Agu, former APGA local government chairman.
During Kalu’s visit to Umuhu Ezechi Ward on Tuesday, more than 100 people publicly announced their defection from the PDP and other political parties to the APC.
Speaking on the tour, Paul Chikezie Mba, a former Commissioner and Bende local government chairman who handed over to Kalu as council chairman 22 years ago said the deputy speaker’s performance as a parliamentarian drew them to the APC.
Mba, a grassroots politician who previously served as a commissioner in various ministries in the Abia State government, also thanked President Bola Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law.
He praised Kalu for attracting many projects to the ward and promised massive support for APC in the area.
Mba said, “I have looked at your efforts. You have dominated Bende, Abia State, and beyond in just one year. I served as Abia State’s commissioner of education, lands, and survey.
“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu surpassed my expectations. I know he is extremely intelligent. He has attracted numerous roads, solar-powered energy for lighting, boreholes, the rehabilitation and construction of schools, health centres, and so on. He has helped a great many people find jobs. He sent people abroad to learn one or more trades. He has surpassed my expectations. I tell him that what he is doing is correct, and I want to support him.
“I appointed him as local government chairman. He appeared to be very energetic from the beginning. I have never had any doubts about him.
“Over a hundred people registered for the APC in this ward on Friday. Another batch arrived today. You can see the turbulent crowd.
“The things you have accomplished well. You are a tough man, and we are praying for you. May God shower you with blessings. I approached you and informed you that I would be joining you based on your performance. God will use you to clean up our community. We are only scratching the surface. We will sweep Umuhu Ezechi for you shortly. I see the great sons of our land who accompany you to Umuhu. Former speakers of the State House of Assembly, and so on.
“We are returning additional votes for you. You are a man of strength and character. You began by discussing the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), then moved on to the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill. May God bless you, your colleagues in the National Assembly, and our president.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, who greeted the crowd and handed them a bunch of brooms as the APC’s symbol, stated that he was in Umuhu Ezechi to express his gratitude to the people for voting for him in the 2023 general election.
He urged people to continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recently signed the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill.
Kalu went on to say that the commission would create jobs for people while also meeting their infrastructure needs.
The Deputy Speaker, who was greeted with traditional dances, then distributed bags of rice, fertiliser and cash donations to local youth, women’s and men’s groups.
During his visit to Ozuitem ward, more than 100 people from the LP, PDP, APGA, and YPP defected to the APC and were greeted by the deputy speaker, who handed them a bunch of brooms, the party’s symbol.
Notable among them were former PDP chiefs John Ihueze and Sunday Kalu Iroham, Adighije Okoronkwo of the APGA, and others from the YPP.
Kalu, who had been welcomed earlier by various dancing groups of youth and women, told the crowd that he was in Ozuitem to thank the people for their support in the previous general election. He also distributed bags of rice and fertilisers, as well as cash gifts, to help them with their agriculture.
• He urged the people to continue supporting President Tinubu and the APC government, assuring them of future democratic dividends.