Dr Tom Otuka, a close associate of the factional governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the forthcoming 2023 general election in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike, and Party chieftain, has dumped the party and defected to the Action Peoples Party (APP) in the state, as reported by the Daily Post.
Recall that Otuka, who hails from Ndoki-Ohanso in Ukwa east local government area of Abia State, was also the deputy governorship candidate to Emenike, a factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in 2019.
His defection came on the heels of the recent announcement of renowned technocrat and academician, Professor Osondu Akoma as the running mate to the APP Abia governorship candidate, Mascot Uzor Kalu, by the leadership of the party ahead of the 2023 elections in the state.
However, during an event at Ohanso-Ndoki Resorts in Ukwa east local government area of Abia State, Mr Tom Otuka was received into the APP fold by the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu.
Speaking before leaders, members and teeming supporters of the Action Peoples Party, Mr Otuka hinted that the outstanding qualities of the APP gubernatorial candidate, Mascot Uzor Kalu and his running mate, Professor Akoma, propelled him to join the party.
He claimed that the latter would live up to expectations and rescue the people of Abia State.
He commended the 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Mascot Uzor Kalu and the state leadership of the Acton Peoples Party and the choice of Professor Osondu Akoma, as the deputy governorship candidate of the party for the coming main 2023 elections in Abia State
Otuka assured the Abia chapter of the Action Peoples Party that he and his teeming supporters across Ndoki Ukwa land and the entire state would work towards ensuring the party emerges victorious in the 2023 elections to form the next government in Abia.
On his part, an Abia chieftain, Chief Appollos Jacob, lauded the emergence of Professor Osondu Akoma as the deputy governorship candidate of the Action Peoples Party ahead of the general election in 2023.
He described Akoma as a result-oriented man who over the years, has put his experience of service to the development of humanity.
Mr Jacobs who doubles as a leading member of a socio-political umbrella in Abia State, Ngwa United Alliance (NUA), confided that the choice of Prof Osondu Akoma as running mate to Mascot Kalu for the 2023 governorship election by the APP leadership will ensure victory for the party in the state.
His words: “Prof Osondu Jacob’s emergence as deputy governorship candidate is a welcome development because he is a man who has the interest of Abia State and all Abians at heart. He is from a responsible Christian family as his father is a retired Venerable in Anglican Church.
“Kalu and the APP made the right choice because Akoma has the ability to unite the Ngwa people and I believe that with this development, even the aggrieved people from the area will all support the party because he is a great leader.
“Without an iota of doubt, his emergence as running mate to Kalu is a sure determinant of victory for APP and I want to assure him of NUA’s continuous support and loyalty.
