In what appears to be a major political realignment in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections, Chief Chris Odinaka Igwe, a prominent oil magnate and former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside more than 13,000 of his supporters.
The event, which took place on Monday in Isiochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area, drew a large crowd of party faithful and community members. Chief Igwe, popularly known as “Chris Nak,” is the Chairman and CEO of Mainland Oil and Gas Ltd. and had been a long-standing figure within the PDP. His defection was described as a significant development in the political dynamics of the region.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, formally received Igwe and his supporters into the APC. Among the new entrants were 27 PDP Ward Chairmen who also pledged their loyalty to the APC and expressed readiness to support Kalu’s vision for the South East.
In his remarks, Hon. Kalu described the move as “strategic and people-driven,” noting that Igwe’s decision to align with the APC was motivated by a desire to better serve his community through connection with national governance structures. He pointed to his efforts in championing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) as part of the broader efforts to attract federal development projects to the region.
Also present at the event was the Abia APC Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, who joined Kalu in inaugurating the defectors into a new grassroots support structure known as the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP). The group is expected to mobilize support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the APC’s prospects in the next election cycle.
Observers note that the defection marks a significant gain for the APC in Abia State and may signal shifting loyalties in the region as political actors reposition ahead of 2027.