House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has received another set of 600 defectors from four political parties into All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.
The defectors dumped the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the state, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to embrace the APC.;
They were received into the APC during Kalu’s tour of electoral wards in his Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Kalu is currently on a “thank you” and mobilisation tour of the 13 electoral wards in his constituency to show gratitude to the people and ask about their immediate needs.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said the Deputy Speaker had visited five wards covering Item Wards A, B, and C; Ugwueke/Ezeukwu and Itumbauzo Wards and received several defectors into the APC.
Amongst the defectors are former PDP councillors from Alayi Ward A, Enoch Elekwa and Chukwu Udensi; former LP ward chairman, Jonah Chukwu; YPP ward vice chairman, Ekeoma Sylvester Eze; and former APGA local government chairman, Ndubuisi Sunday Agu.
Also, over 100 defectors publicly dumped the PDP and other political parties and joined APC when Kalu visited Umuhu Ezechi Ward on Tuesday.
During the tour, a former commissioner and Bende Local Government Area’s erstwhile chairman, who handed over to Kalu as council chairman 22 years ago, Paul Chikezie Mba, said the performance of the Deputy Speaker at the National Assembly attracted him and other defectors to APC.
Mba expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law and hailed Kalu for attracting many projects to the ward.
Receiving the defectors, Kalu said he was at Umuhu Ezechi to show gratitude to the people for voting him in last year’s general election.
He urged the people to continue to support President Tinubu who graciously signed the SEDC Bill.
During his visit to Ozuitem Ward, the Deputy Speaker received over 100 defectors from LP, PDP, APGA, and YPP to APC.
They included Chief John Ihueze and Sunday Kalu Iroham, who were hitherto chieftains of PDP; Adighije Okoronkwo, from APGA, and a host of others from YPP.