<\/p>\n
In his resignation letter to the APC chairman of Umuahia North LGA, Akaliro blamed his decision on what he described as deep-seated crises, factionalisation, and the collapse of leadership structures within the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince my inauguration, the APC in Abia <\/a>has never extended an invitation to me, formal or informal, for any meeting or activity, thereby undermining my relevance and mandate,\u201d<\/i> he lamented.<\/p>\n Akaliro, who chairs the House Committee on Public Petitions and Judiciary, was the only APC lawmaker elected into the Assembly during the 2023 polls.<\/p>\n The lawmaker also condemned the constant suspension and counter-suspension of party officials across Abia <\/a>wards and LGAs, calling it \u201ca sign of irreversible disunity.\u201d<\/p>\n He said after due consultations with his constituents and allies, he chose to align with Governor Alex <\/a>Otti\u2019s Labour Party-led administration, which he praised as visionary and development-driven.<\/p>\n Speaking to journalists after formally dumping the APC, the lawmaker, popularly known as \u201cThe man with excess grace\u201d declared loyalty to Governor Otti.<\/p>\n He said, \u201cToday, I\u2019ve seen the light. Before now, I\u2019ve been watching His Excellency Dr. Alex <\/a>Choma-Otti to know where he\u2019s coming from and where he\u2019s headed. So today, I\u2019ve decided to join His Excellency in the Labour Party because I\u2019ve looked at the things he has done so far for the good of our state.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cJudging from his antecedents and what he has done, I had thought he was just a banker, but I never knew he was a seasoned administrator. He came prepared for the job. My constituents are excited that I\u2019ve joined the moving train. I know he\u2019s taking us to the proper destination.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Highlighting the governor\u2019s strides in education, infrastructure, and social development, Akaliro said, \u201cIn the education sector, infrastructure development, just name it: housing, smart schools, he has built cutting across the length and breadth of Abia <\/a>State. Even the blind can see that, truly, this man came prepared for the work, and he\u2019s doing it seamlessly.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n He admitted that being in opposition had become \u201cvery difficult\u201d because Otti was consistently delivering on his promises.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made my job as a former opposition person very, very difficult because I had no need to criticise him. Even when the thought comes up, in the next moment, he\u2019s doing it. So I had no other choice but to join him because I know he\u2019s the right man for this job,\u201d<\/i> Akaliro said.<\/p>\n The lawmaker formally announced his new political identity, saying, \u201cI\u2019m officially declaring, and I want to be known as Honourable Barrister Anderson Kelechi Akaliro, the man with excess grace, representing the good people of Umuahia North State Constituency as a member of the Labour Party.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Akaliro\u2019s defection further erodes APC\u2019s already fragile presence in Abia <\/a>while boosting the rising dominance of Governor Otti\u2019s Labour Party.<\/p>\n