Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has welcomed approximately 600 defectors from four political parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state.
The new members, previously affiliated with the ruling Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), were officially received during Kalu’s tour of electoral wards in his Bende Federal Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives is currently on a thank you and mobilisation tour of the 13 electoral wards to show gratitude and also ascertain more of their immediate needs.
The chief press secretary to the deputy speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu said in a statement that the Deputy Speaker 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 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. 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 Bola Ahmed 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.
Also during his visit to the Ozuitem ward, over 100 persons from LP, PDP, APGA, and YPP defected to APC and were received by the deputy speaker who handed them a bunch of brooms as APC’s symbol.
Notable amongst them were Arc. (Chief) John Ihueze and Sunday Kalu Iroham who were hitherto chieftains of PDP; Adighije Okoronkwo from APGA and others from YPP.
Welcomed earlier by different dancing groups of youth and women, Kalu who told the crowd he was in Ozuitem to appreciate the people for their support in the last general election also distributed bags of rice and fertilizers with cash gifts to support them in agriculture.
He urged the people to continue supporting President Tinubu and the APC government, assuring them of more dividends of democracy.
The Nation
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