2027: Join us to re-elect Tinubu, Reps Dep speaker woos Abia lawmaker

2026-02-15 - 14:29

By Ugochukwu Alaribe Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called on the lawmaker representing Obingwa West Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, to join the All Progressives Congress ,APC,and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Kalu who made the call during a courtesy visit to Erondu,said the latter’s time in the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, has expired, stressing it is time for him to join the APC and contribute to the party’s growth and development. He assured that the APC has a bigger platform for everyone and urged the lawmaker to bring his team to join the party. Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of the State also commended Erondu for the empowerment he held in Obingwa council and the people to join the Renewed Hope Partners, a group working to promote President Tinubu’s agenda at the grassroots level. He said: “My reason for coming here is because I promised my host, that I will grace his empowerment programme. But on that day, it was very difficult for me to come because of national assignments. I later called and told him I will still come. We have come a long way together. We were local government chairmen at the same time. Some said we were too young at the time but we persisted and today, we are making impacts. I came to congratulate him on the successful outing. I was monitoring virtually and I saw what you did. It was amazing. For a House of Assembly member to do what you did, it means you love your constituents. God will reward you. My message to ndi Obingwa is for you to continue supporting him for more democracy dividends. “Another thing I want to say is this: my brother, we started this today before we all went different places.Our people have a saying that united stand, divided we fall. Your time in PDP has expired. And I know you as a very smart and intelligent person. Staying back in PDP means underdeveloping yourself and the potentials you have. It is about time to join the moving train. I have come to invite you ro join us and Mr. President in APC. You have tried in PDP. We were all there before we saw light in APC. “I am here today to invite you and your team, come, let’s work together. The room is big enough for everyone and this is the right time to come in. You are a progressive. There is a lot for us to achieve there. “I want you to join us in Renewed Hope Partners. They are those partnering with Mr. President to project Mr. President from the grassroot to the national level. When we harvest young minds like you who are energetic and progressive, we can penetrate deeper into the grassroots. They said there is no APC in Abia State but when our results came in for membership, it was huge. I urge Obingwa people to come, let’s not be left behind. Let’s all join hands and deliver Mr. President to come back and complete what he has started “Delivering Abia State for Tinubu is bigger than his personal political ambitions and urged everyone to join hands to achieve the goal for the country’s continued progress and growth. “Another issue is that we have a task. We must deliver the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come 2027. That task of delivering the President here in my area is bigger than my personal political ambition. And that is the truth because he has been good to me like a father and leader and I believe in his policies and agenda. I have seen the agenda of Mr. President impact lives positively. I have seen a courageous man in the President. He is bold to take decisions and those decisions, though criticized by the public are serving the public well today. It is not yet Eldorado. We are not yet there but the point remains that we are not where we started. We have moved and advanced. Our hope is that as the days go by, we will get closer to our destination.” In his response, the lawmaker representing Obingwa West state Constituency in the Abia state House of Assembly,Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, assured the Deputy Speaker of delivering Tinubu in Abia State especially in Abia South Senatorial District, saying there is no need for any form of campaigns in the area. “Your Excellency, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, I express my profound gratitude to you for visiting. Although you couldn’t make it to our empowerment programme, you congratulated me and pledged to visit on your return to Abia. Today, you have fulfilled that promise and I am not taking it for granted. For me, this is a covenant. I have known you for over 23 years and we have been working together. Let me also congratulate on your recognition as the Legislator of the year 2025 award. The recognition shows you are serving Nigeria well. We are very proud of you. “Your Excellency, I heard the issues you raised and I will respond. You and I and Obingwa people have come a long way. I want to assure you that the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu is non negotiable irrespective of party platforms. He is not contesting it with anyone here. Please, help us tell Mr. President that he should not bother coming to Abia South to campaign. I know that you and other political leaders from your Abia North can harvest votes for Mr. President. I also know that some of your followers which include 2 former Abia Speakers and others from Abia Central can gather votes for the President but for Abia South, don’t bother. Leave it for us. No second position in election. We will deliver Mr. President with a wide margin.” On his defection to the APC, the lawmaker promised to consult widely with his constituents and supporters before making a decision. Vanguard News