It was a massive defection as 86 constituents of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu belonging to other political parties, Sunday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The constituents were hitherto members of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (PDP) in Ugwueke/Ezeukwu Ward in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia which Kalu represents in the National Assembly.
A statement by Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that amongst the decampees is a notable PDP youth leader, Arthur Paul Chukwu Ota.
Receiving the decampees into APC during his visit to the Ward to express his gratitude to the constituents for their vote and support in the last 2023 general elections, the deputy speaker commended them for their decision to join the ruling party at the center.
He said that APC under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has healed the wounds of the people of the south east sustained during the civil war by signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law 54 years after.
Kalu assured that the Commission will create jobs and provide the infrastructural needs of the people in the region.
He said: “What you have come to do today is to show that APC is working for the people. This party represents progress. It is time for progress. This is to say that you appreciate what APC is doing. The president has answered our prayers and gave us SEDC. You now have SEDC. Your children will get jobs there.”
Kalu charged the people to keep supporting President Tinubu, saying that he means well for the nation.
He also distributed some bags of rice and fertilizers to support the people in agriculture as well as some cash donations to support them economically.
Upon his arrival earlier, the deputy speaker and his entourage were received by the former minority leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, the Ugwueke Traditional Rulers Council, the women and youth associations who gave them a rousing welcome to the Ward.
