The National Assembly Liaison Officer to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Chief Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, has defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress, in a development seen as a major political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chinasa formally aligned with the APC during a meeting of critical party stakeholders convened in Owerri by Hope Uzodinma, where he was received by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The defection is considered significant given Chinasa’s role as Governor Alex Otti’s liaison officer to the National Assembly, where he coordinated legislative matters between the state government and federal lawmakers from Abia.
Observers said the move signaled growing political realignments in Abia and reinforces Kalu’s influence within the APC structure in the state as preparations gradually build toward 2027.
Chinasa, who contested against Kalu for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 elections and had been a known critic of the Deputy Speaker, was welcomed into the ruling party by Kalu, who described the development as a sign of more high-profile defections to come.
Kalu also urged party members to intensify efforts toward the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying hard work would continue to attract more entrants into the APC.
