Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the National Assembly Liaison Officer to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has formally left the Labour Party (LP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Widely known as Dogo, Chinasa was a close political ally of Governor Otti and a senior figure in the Labour Party within Bende Local Government Area and the Abia North Senatorial District.
Chinasa, who is seeking to represent Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, attended an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri, Imo State, on Sunday. The gathering, convened by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, was interpreted as a clear signal of Chinasa’s political realignment.
In the 2023 general elections, Chinasa contested the Bende Federal Constituency seat but was defeated by the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. After the election, Governor Otti appointed him as National Assembly Liaison Officer. On Sunday, Kalu confirmed Chinasa’s defection to the APC and welcomed him, noting their shared political history: “Dogo ran for the House of Representatives with me in Bende and was later appointed by the governor as National Assembly Liaison Officer. He is from Bende and from Ikwu Isii, my own section of the constituency, and today he has come to join our party. I am sure he will feel welcome.”
Chinasa’s move marks a significant shift in the political dynamics of Abia State, particularly in Bende Federal Constituency, where intra‑party competition is expected to intensify ahead of future elections. His defection also underscores the ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties position themselves for upcoming electoral contests.
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