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). Chinasa, widely known as Dogo, was previously a close political ally of Governor Otti and a senior figure within the Labour Party in both Bende Local Government Area and 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 meeting was convened by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. His attendance at the gathering was seen as a clear signal of his political realignment.
In the 2023 general elections, Chinasa contested for the Bende Federal Constituency seat but was defeated by the incumbent, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu. Following the election, he was appointed by Governor Otti as National Assembly Liaison Officer.
Confirming Chinasa’s defection on Sunday, Kalu welcomed him to the APC, 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,” Kalu said. “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.
