Over 3,000 new members from various political parties have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.
The mass defection took place in Akwete, Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area, during an empowerment programme organized by Hon. Chris Nkwonta, the member representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Receiving defectors from Ukwa East and Ukwa West, the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said that more defections to APC remain imminient, emphasizing the party’s growing influence in the southeast region.
Kalu described the wave of defections as a sign of appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the Southeast, particularly through the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), which aims to address the region’s infrastructure deficits.
In his words: “The President has shown genuine commitment to Ndigbo through equity and fairness. By signing the SEDC bill into law, he has taken a major step toward rebuilding the damage caused by the civil war and ensuring sustainable development in the Southeast.”
He urged the new members to remain steadfast in their support for the APC, assuring them that the party will prioritize their welfare and development.
“For taking this decision to join APC, it shall be well with you. The party is here to empower you so that you can empower others,” he added.
Meanwhile the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Ukwa Chapter, led by HRH Eze Obinna Nwagbara, during the event, honoured the Deputy Speaker with the Chieftaincy titled “Enyioha of Ukwa Kingdom” and encouraged continued support for President Tinubu’s administration, promising that Ukwa East, Ukwa West, and the broader Southeast region would benefit significantly from democracy dividends.
Prominent among the defectors was Hon. Emeka Stanley, former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and a former member of the House of Representatives.
In his remark, the Chairman, House Committee on South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Rep. Chris Nkwonta has thanked his constituents for the trust and support given to him, urging them to remain steadfast and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
Chief Nkwonta who maintained that President Tinubu is committed to the development of Ukwa, Abia State, Southeast and Nigeria at large, urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to make good use of the items and support provided.
In her response, one of the beneficiaries of Nkwonta’s empowerment programme, Mrs. Emeka Rhoda, thanked the federal Lawmaker for gifting her with a lady’s machine, promising that she would put the machine into good economic use.
