UMUAHIA — A former Legal Adviser to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr Benjamin Ugorji Eke, has defected to the Labour Party (LP), declaring his support for Governor Alex Otti and the party’s Abia North Senatorial candidate, Chief David Onuoha Ogba, popularly known as Bourdex, ahead of the 2027 elections
Eke, who announced his decision while addressing journalists in Umuahia, said his defection was personal and informed by his assessment of political developments in the state and the performance of the Otti administration
He said his decision to leave the APC was not as a result of pressure, persecution or personal ambition, but was driven by his desire to support what he described as good governance and equitable political representation
According to him, Otti has performed exceptionally well in his first term, particularly in infrastructure and other areas of development, and should be given another term to consolidate his achievements
“I was not pushed by anybody I was not hunted by anybody. I was a staunch member of APC,” Eke said, adding that his decision followed his assessment of developments under successive administrations in the state.
The former APC legal adviser also said he joined the LP to support Bourdex, whom he described as hardworking, accessible and philanthropic, with strong human relations and the capacity to effectively represent the people of Abia North
Eke expressed confidence that Bourdex could defeat the incumbent senator representing the district, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in the 2027 election
He said the LP candidate had the political capacity and grassroots support required to secure victory
Eke also hinged his support for Bourdex on the principle of equity, arguing that political offices should not become the permanent preserve of individuals or particular communities
He maintained that the people of Abia North had historically recognised the need to rotate political representation among the various areas within the senatorial district and urged politicians to respect the arrangement in the interest of fairness and unity
According to him, all other Local Government Areas in Abia North have had a turn at the Senate except Ohafia Local Government Area, where Bourdex hails from
Eke, who acknowledged his involvement in the APC structure during the controversial 2020 Abia North election, alleged that voters in some areas, including Arochukwu and Ohafia, were denied the opportunity to exercise their franchise
“Equity demands that nobody should be denied when it gets to his own field or opportunity to have a part of the political platter,” he said
On the possibility of a repeat of such electoral controversies in 2027, Eke expressed optimism that the political environment had changed and that voters would not again be denied their constitutional right to elect their representatives
He also argued that although senators and members of the House of Representatives have the constitutional right to seek re-election, such re-election should not be regarded as automatic
According to him, performance and equity should determine whether the electorate renews the mandate of an incumbent
Eke said his defection to the LP was therefore based on two major considerations: his assessment of the Otti administration’s performance and his conviction that Bourdex represents the kind of leadership Abia North needs
He urged voters in the senatorial district to assess candidates based on their records and capacity rather than relying solely on incumbency, political structures or party affiliation