Governor Ikpeazu May Defect to APC?

Amid defection rumour, the chief whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has met with Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has met Kalu at his Umuobiakwa country home in Obinngwa local government area of Abia state. This was disclosed in a statement by Kalu’s media office in Abuja. .The statement said:“Kalu who was accompanied by his retinue of aides and security staff disembarked from his official SUV and advanced to exchange greetings with the Abia governor who was beaming with smiles on sighting the Senate chief whip.

“Immediately after their cordial greetings, Ikpeazu led Orji Kalu and his personal aides straight to his lounge. Shortly after another brief episode of pleasantries, the duo proceeded with the exemption of their aides into the inner room for a private meeting.” The statement further noted that the visit of the former Governor Orji Kalu comes just a week after the Abia state visited President Muhammadu Buhari on December 30, 2021, which fueled speculations that he intends to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It noted that many people believe the visit was connected with his rumoured intention to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The statement also stated: “Furthermore, the unexpected visit also comes less than a week after the Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders in Arochukwu local government council, affirmed Orji Kalu’s political supremacy, declaring the former governor as their leader and father of Abia politics.

“According to records during his tenure as Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu introduced the current Abia Governor to politics, who prior to his becoming Governor was a lecturer at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, after which Kalu appointed him as his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Education, followed by other subsequent appointments.

“Also, Ikpeazu’s predecessor, Theodore Orji, a native of Umuahia Ibeku, was drafted into politics by Orji Kalu as his Chief of Staff when Kalu was Governor of the state. TA Orji remained in the position throughout Kalu’s eight years in office. Orji Kalu ensured that TA Orji succeeded him in 2007 and also governed the state for eight years, which ended in 2015.”