Otti’s aide defects to APC

The National Assembly Liaison Officer to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Iheanyi Chinasa, has defected to the All Progressives Congress, in a development signalling growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This was disclosed in a Sunday statement signed by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Chinasa, also known as Dogo, aligned with the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, during a meeting of APC stakeholders held in Owerri, Imo State.

The meeting, convened by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, brought together key party figures as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the APC’s structure in the South-East.

Chinasa’s defection is considered significant given his strategic role in the Labour Party-led administration in Abia, where he served as a link between the state government and federal lawmakers.

It also marks a shift in political alignment, as Chinasa had previously contested against Kalu for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 general elections and had remained critical of him.

Welcoming the defector, Kalu described the move as a sign of more high-profile entrants into the APC in the coming months.

“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),” he said.

Kalu added that Chinasa would be warmly received within the party fold.

“I am sure he will feel welcome seeing all these great men and women here,” he said.

He also urged party members and aspirants to remain committed ahead of future elections.

“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 stated.

Chinasa is yet to publicly state the reasons behind his defection.