From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

 

The member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta, has vowed to join hands with other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia to ensure the party wins the state in 2027.

Hon Nkwonta made the vow during a stakeholders meeting of Abia South zone of the party held at his country home, Akwete, in Ukwa East Local Government Area.

Nkwonta, who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but later defected to APC, said that by APC winning Abia in 2027, the state would have joined the mainstream of Nigerian politics and would always get more than its due of the national cake.

Nkwonta, rumoured to be eying the seat of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe at the upper legislative chamber in 2027, said should Abia State come together and deliver President Bola Tinubu in next election, the state would have full fledged Ministerial slot instead of the Minister of State portfolio.

“If we should leave the past behind us and come together to support APC in the next election; should we deliver President Bola Tinubu in 2027, instead of the Minister of State portfolio Abia is presently occupying, we will have full-fledged ministerial slot.”

Nkwonta commended Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Ben Kalu for what they are doing to make APC in Abia North strong and urged leaders of the party in Abia South to close ranks and ensure APC will be a force to reckon with in the zone.

He lauded Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy and allowing the naira to float, adding that the two policies though came with them some level of hardship, but that the country will be better off at the long run.

A Chieftain of APC in the state, Marc Wabara said every efforts are being made to ensure APC takes its rightful place in the state.

Represented by an aide, Wabara went further to say, “Any politician worth his salt in the state, is now in APC, with this, there is no gainsaying the fact that the party will win in the next election in the state.”

He commended Nkwonta for leaving PDP to join APC at the time he did, stressing that with a big fish like lawmaker, the party will go places.

Other bigwigs of the party who spoke, including Hon Uzor Azubuike, former Abia House of Assembly member and Sylvanus Nwaji, commended Nkwonta for his quality leadership.

They called for unity in the party which they said will ensure APC comes out tops in the state in future elections.