Abia Lawmaker Defects from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress, Backs Tinubu’s Re-election

The member representing Obingwa-West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Uchenna Erondu Jnr, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Erondu, who currently chairs the House Committee on Public Service Matters, formally joined the APC on Tuesday evening at Nenu in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. He was received by former Deputy Governor Chris Akomas, party leaders and thousands of supporters.

Speaking at the event, the lawmaker said his decision to switch parties was driven by the need to attract greater development to Obingwa, Abia South and the state as a whole. A former chairman of Obingwa LGA, Erondu pledged to sustain effective representation and urged constituents and Nigerians to support the APC. 

He stated that his move would provide a stronger platform to expand on his past achievements, adding that continued collaboration would help consolidate the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also declared firm support for the President’s re-election bid in 2027, describing his policies as bold and necessary.

Sources within the party said the defection followed sustained lobbying by key APC figures, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Okezie Kalu, former Imo governorship candidate Uche Nwosu, and federal lawmaker Chris Nkwonta. It was gathered that Kalu met with Erondu days earlier and invited him to join the APC.

In his remarks, Akomas described Erondu as a valuable 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 Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, its pioneer National Vice Chairman from Abia. He expressed confidence that the defection would strengthen the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Others who defected with Erondu include former Obingwa LGA Chairman George Ubani and Chikezirim Monday Orji, along with over 5,000 supporters, in what party stakeholders described as a major boost for the APC in the state.

Prominent APC chieftains present at the reception included Board of Trustees member Sam Nkire, former Abia Speaker Christopher Enweremadu, Aaron Uzodike, Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Ebere Nwachukwu, and Precious Achumba, among others.

The development is widely viewed as a setback for the PDP in the state. Efforts to obtain official reaction from the state party chairman, Abraham Amah, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.