The 2023 House of Assembly candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) for Bende North Constituency in Abia State, Hon. Chidiebere Okoh, and teeming supporters across the five electoral wards that form the state constituency, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among them were the ward chairmen, youth, and women leaders of the ADP.
Speaking at an event held in Okoko Item Civic Hall on Sunday, Okoh stated that he was not joining the APC solely to contest elections under its platform, but rather to team up with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
He maintained that the duo had demonstrated credible leadership within the short period they assumed their respective offices.
The ex-ADP chieftain promised to work with other progressive-minded members to ensure the APC’s victory in the 2027 elections.
Okoh also pledged to promote cohesion within the party, starting from his local electoral ward in Bende North State Constituency.
Receiving the ADP defectors during the event, the Chairman of the APC, Item Ward B in Bende Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Onyekwere, who led the ward executive members of the party, expressed optimism about the bold step taken by the defectors.
According to him, “It is a thing of joy that our brother has come on board, and his decision to join APC will help APC produce the next State House of Assembly member. I must also say that the rate at which members of other political parties in Abia State are joining the APC will guarantee the party’s success in future elections at local, state, and national levels.”
The APC Chairman, however, assured the defectors of equal rights and a level playing ground in the discharge of party activities and affairs, while urging them to shun anti-party activities.