No fewer than 600 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Progressive Party (YPP) have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, welcomed the defectors during a tour of electoral wards in Bende Federal Constituency.
Kalu is currently on a “thank you” and mobilisation tour of the 13 electoral wards in Bende to show gratitude and also ascertain more of their immediate needs.
In a statement on Wednesday, the chief press secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said Kalu has visited 5 wards covering Item Ward A, B, C; Ugwueke/Ezeukwu and Itumbauzo Wards and received several defectors into the APC.
Amongst those who defected were former PDP councillors from Alayi Ward A, Hon. Enoch Elekwa and Hon. Chukwu Udensi, 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 the performance of the Deputy Speaker as a parliamentarian has attracted them to APC.
Mba also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law, while commending Kalu for attracting many projects to the ward.
He 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.
“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu overwhelmed my imagination. I know he is very intelligent. He has attracted so many roads, solar-powered energy for light, boreholes, rehabilitation and building of schools, health centres and so on. So many people have gained employment through him.
“He sent people abroad to learn one trade or another. He has exceeded my expectations. I tell him, what he’s doing is right and I want to support him.
“I handed over to him as local government chairman. From day one, he looked so vibrant. I have never had any doubt about him.
“Over a hundred people registered for APC in this ward on Friday. Another batch came out today. You can see the tumultuous crowd.
“The things you’ve done well. You’re a tough man, we are praying for you. May God bless you. I came to you and told you I will join you because of your performance. God is going to use you to clean up our community. We are just scratching the surface.
“We will sweep Umuhu Ezechi for you you soon. I see the great sons of our land that accompanied you to Umuhu. The former speakers of the State House of Assembly and so on.
“We are returning more votes for You’re a man of strength and character. You started by talking about the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) and move ahead with the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill. May God bless you, your colleagues in the National Assembly, and our President.”
Receiving the decampees, the Deputy Speaker said he was in Umuhu Ezechi to show gratitude to the people for voting for him in the 2023 general election.
He urged the people to continue to support President Tinubu who graciously signed the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill recently.
Kalu added that the commission will create employment for the people and also meet the infrastructural needs of the people.
The Deputy Speaker, who was welcomed by the people with traditional dances, later distributed bags of rice, fertilizers, and cash donations to the youth, women, and men’s groups in the area.