Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has officially welcomed over 3,000 new members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.
This mass defection took place in Akwete, Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area, during an empowerment program organized by Hon. Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency.
Kalu addressed a lively gathering from Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government areas, where he revealed that even more defections to the APC are on the horizon.
The event was symbolic, with APC’s iconic broom symbol prominently displayed to showcase the growing support for the party in Abia State.
The Deputy Speaker said that the defection is a reflection of the people’s gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has shown commitment to Igbo people’s development, especially through the creation of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
He said that the establishment of the Commission will essentially cater for the region’s infrastructure needs.
It will be recalled that Nkwonta, who chairs the House Committee on South East Development Commission recently defected to the APC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Kalu said: “The President has tried for Ndigbo. He is still trying for Ndigbo. He is the only man who remembered Ndigbo after 54 years when a promise of reconstruction, reconciliation, and rehabilitation was made to Ndigbo.
He came with the spirit of equity and fairness. He is a leader who believes in development. He signed the bill into law so that the damage caused by the Civil War would be rebuilt.
As the leader of our party, he has asked us to galvanize the grassroots and bring them closer to the politics of development that he is bringing to the Igbo land.
“For taking this decision to join APC, it shall be well with you. APC has come closer to the people. On behalf of our party, we welcome you. We know who you are and what you are capable of doing. When this caliber of people left PDP and other parties and joined the APC, what again is left? The parties have collapsed. Everybody is here. We will empower you to empower others”.
Kalu who was also honored with a chieftaincy title of “Ogbuagu Ndi Igbo”, meaning “a courageous leader” urged the people to continue to support the government of the President Tinubu, assuring that Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Abia as a State and indeed, Igbo land will be benefit from more democracy dividends.
Some of the decampees included the former Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and former member, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Stanley.
