A foremost chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), as well as the former two-term governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK), might have made up his mind to dump the party, and is set be heading back to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), very competent sources close to the Abia-APC leadership Confirmed the Developement.
Uzor-Kalu, who had in the past one year, constituted himself into the loudest voice of support both for the APC and the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, might have joined the train of those who are currently deserting the ruling party at the centre and defecting to opposition parties.
While sources close to the former governor denied the defection move, there are clear indications that the centre might no longer be the same between APC and OUK, who has recently come under a barrage of criticism all across the South East for hobnobbing with the APC, which is seen as the most unpopular party in the zone.
One of his close associates who resides in Umuahia, Abia state capital, revealed that “His Excellency has not told us he is leaving the party. But if he does, we shall all leave APC because he is the reason why we are in the APC”.
Asked whether he did not see Kalu’s posters which is adorning strategic places in the state, he simply replied, “I have not seen any of such except if they are in Abia North. But soon after you people called, an associate informed me that there were posters but the posters did not have the logo of any political party and besides, I can vouch that neither His Excellency, nor his aides pasted such posters”.
Knowledgeable political observers in Abia State and beyond had been alleging that the more than enthusiastic support and campaign of the APC by Chief Kalu might be that the politician was hoping that by so doing, he would stave off prosecution by EFCC, believed by many to be the lightening rod of the government, and that membership of APC was a sort of antidote against EFCC prosecution.
However, when, two weeks ago, rather than drop the charges against OUK, the EFCC amended the charges of corruption and abuse of office against Kalu by increasing the charges to 39 counts, even as the Court of Appeal issued fresh directives for the speedy conclusion of the case.
Sources Said that OUK camp was miffed by the development which was interpreted as a betrayal, and might have started strategizing to dump the APC and work his way back to the PDP, the ruling party in his state.
Our correspondent equally learnt that Chief Kalu is plotting to contest again for the senatorial position of his Abia North constituency. We reliably learnt that this plan has reached advanced stages, as Kalu was said to have even issued posters announcing his aspiration for the senatorial contest.
The posters, as our reporter learnt, the APC logo, or that of any other party for that matter was included, a clear indication that APC no longer holds any charm for the former governor.
