From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has received over 3,000 new members who defected from different political parties to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State.
The mass defection took place in Akwete, Ndoki in Ukwa East Local Government Area during an empowerment programme by the member representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta.
Addressing the gathering, Kalu revealed that an influx of new defections to the party is imminent.
The deputy speaker said the defection was a reflection of the people’s gratitude to President Bola Tinubu who had shown commitment to Igbo people’s development, especially through the creation of the South East Development Commission, SEDC.
He said the establishment of the commission would essentially cater for the region’s infrastructural needs.
It would be recalled that Nkwonta, who chairs the House Committee on South-East Development Commission, recently defected to the APC from the Peoples 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. 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.”
The deputy speaker urged the people to continue to support the government of President Tinubu, assuring that Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal Constituency and indeed Igbo land would benefit from more democracy dividends.
