By Mercy Gadia
Chief Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the National Assembly Liaison Officer to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress, aligning with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chinasa, popularly known as Dogo, formally identified with Kalu during a meeting of APC critical stakeholders held in Owerri, Imo State.
The meeting was convened by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Sunday.
The defection is seen as a significant political development given Chinasa’s role in the Labour Party-led administration in Abia State, where he served as a liaison between the state government and members of the National Assembly.
Chinasa had contested the 2023 House of Representatives election for Bende Federal Constituency alongside Kalu and had remained one of his critics before the latest development.
Welcoming him into the APC, Kalu described the move as a signal of more high-profile defections to the party in the coming months.
He said, “Dogo ran election with me in Bende for House of Representatives and was later appointed by the governor as National Assembly Liaison Officer.
“He is from Bende and from Ikwu Isii, my own section of the constituency, and today, he has come to join our party (APC). I am sure he will feel welcome seeing all these great men and women here.
“So, I want to encourage everybody, especially the aspirants, to be strong-willed and courageous and to keep pushing. The harder you work, the more people will want to join APC.”
Kalu also urged party members to intensify efforts towards the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Chinasa has yet to publicly state the reasons for his defection.
Observers say the development highlights growing political realignments in Abia State as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.