The lawmaker representing Obingwa-West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Uchenna Erondu Jnr, on Tuesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Erondu Jnr, who chairs the House Committee on Public Service Matters, was formally received into the APC at Nenu in Obingwa Local Government Area by former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chris Akomas, alongside party leaders and supporters said to number over 5,000.
Explaining his decision, the former Obingwa LGA chairman said joining the APC would enable him to attract greater development to Obingwa LGA, Abia South and the state at large. He pledged to sustain his record of effective representation and urged residents of Obingwa, Abia State, the South-East and Nigeria to support the APC.
“If I could accomplish what I did while in the PDP, I assure our people that with the APC platform, we will do even more. I urge sustained collaboration to consolidate the gains made so far by President Tinubu,” he said.
He declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, describing the President’s reform policies as bold and necessary for Nigeria’s long-term growth, adding that Tinubu’s re-election “is not negotiable.”
The defection followed what party sources described as sustained wooing by key APC figures, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu; former Imo governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu; and federal lawmaker, Chris Nkwonta. Kalu had reportedly met with Erondu Jnr on Saturday night to invite him to join the APC.
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In his remarks, Akomas described Erondu Jnr as “a priceless political asset and an early foundation member of the APC in Abia,” noting that he once served as the party’s first Administrative Secretary in the state alongside Chief Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, its pioneer National Vice Chairman from Abia. He expressed confidence that Erondu’s return would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Erondu Jnr defected alongside former Obingwa LGA Chairman, Hon. George Ubani; Hon. Chikezirim Monday Orji; and over 5,000 supporters, in what stakeholders described as a significant boost for the APC in the state.
Other prominent APC figures at the event included Chief Sam Nkire, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees; former Abia Speaker, Rt. Hon. Christopher Enweremadu; Hon. Aaron Uzodike; Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi; Hon. Ebere Nwachukwu; and Mrs. Precious Achumba, among others.
Efforts to reach the Abia State PDP Chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.