From Okey Sampson and Kenneth Ude, Abia

The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu on Friday, received over 8,000 people who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from other political parties.

Speaking while receiving the defectors led by Chief Kelvin Jumbo Onumah and Hon. Patrick Ikechi Anya, Senator Kalu said he has been working day and night to ensure that peace returns to APC in the state to enable it win the governorship election in 2027.

Kalu expressed joy that his efforts have started to bear fruit, which he said necessitate the large defectors to the APC despite the fact the party is not in power in the state presently.

Senator Kalu said that it was a thing to be happy about that a personality like Onumah and others in Abiriba were joining APC, stressing that with the development, Abia North and indeed the whole of Abia State is now APC.

The former governor said there was no doubt Chief Onuma, as a very successful businessman has touched so many lives as a private citizen, but that he needed to be in government to serve his people the more.

“Onuma has no doubt been a successful businessman who has touched so many lives as a private citizen and I think there is no body who would not support him as he is joining APC.

“We must be in government to help our people the more and that will be done through the APC which is a great party and the largest party in Africa.”

He urged the new entrants to endeavour to bring new members to the fold so that the party will win the 2027 governorship election in the state.

On the reforms embarked upon by the President Bola Tinubu administration, Kalu said: “Reforms are very difficult to achieve, I was governor and embarked on some reforms, it took me three years to get grip of the state. Nigerians should exercise patience with the present administration as things will get better soon.”

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The Chairman of APC in the state, Kingsley Ononogbu, speaking, said the party would take over the leadership of Abia State in 2027, with a promise to provide more democracy dividends for the Abia people.

Ononogbu said that APC would count on the achievements recorded by Senator Kalu in the Senate, and others to win available seats in the state in the 2027 elections.

The APC state chairman described the Abia North Senatorial zone  as the capital of APC in Abia, having  produced the state Party Chairman, Senator, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives and Minister.

He noted that his party having corrected every mistake that prevented it from winning the state during the 2023 polls, is now more united and prepared to rule the state in 2027.

He praised Senator Kalu for achieving the feat of unifying the party and promised that they will leverage on it.

“We expect that if we take over Abia State in 2027, you will see more actions, verifiable actions,” he promised.

Ononogbu later presented the APC flag and broom to  Kelvin Jombo and other defectors, saying the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members made the right choice by joining the APC.

In his speech, Onumah said that he joined the APC to attract development to his people of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency as well as Abia North at large and also to add value to the APC.

Other chieftains of APC who spoke at the event included Emma Nwosu, Hon Patrick Anya, Ogboso Ojisi, Uche Ogboso, Mrs. Nnenna Obewu Onwuka, Obasi Uba, among others. They all eulogized Senator Kalu for his efforts in building APC in the state.

They promised to galvanize more people in the area to ensure APC wins the state in 2027.