Abia Lawmaker Dumps PDP For APC, Backs Tinubu’s Re-election

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

Erondu, who chairs the House Committee on Public Service Matters, was formally received into the APC at Nenu in Obingwa LGA by former Deputy Governor, Chris Akomas, alongside party leaders and more than 5,000 supporters.

Explaining his decision, the former Obingwa Local Government chairman said his move to the APC would help him attract greater development to Obingwa, Abia South and the state at large.

He pledged to sustain 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.

The lawmaker also declared his support for the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing the President’s reforms as bold.

“The re-election of President Tinubu in 2027 is not negotiable,” he added.

Sources said the defection followed sustained lobbying 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 on Saturday night, where he invited the Abia lawmaker to join the APC.

In his remarks, Akomas described Erondu as “a priceless political asset and an early foundation member of the APC in Abia,” noting that he previously served as the party’s first Administrative Secretary in the state alongside Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, its pioneer National Vice Chairman from Abia.

He thanked the lawmaker for returning to the party and expressed confidence that his defection would strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Other defectors, APC chieftains in attendance

Erondu defected alongside former Obingwa LGA Chairman, George Ubani; Chikezirim Monday Orji; and over 5,000 supporters in what stakeholders described as a major boost for the APC in Abia State.

Other prominent APC figures present included Sam Nkire, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees; former Abia Speaker, Christopher Enweremadu; Aaron Uzodike; Emmanuel Ndubuisi; Ebere Nwachukwu; and Precious Achumba, among others.

The development is considered a major setback for the PDP in Abia State. However, no official comment has been made yet by the State PDP chairman, Abraham Amah, as of the time of filing this report.