The Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, has officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made earlier today during a brief but highly attended event in Abuja, where the Senator formally declared his decision to join the ruling party. Senator Chukwu, who won his Senate seat under the Labour Party platform in the 2023 general elections, cited the need for “greater collaboration with the Federal Government to deliver dividends of democracy” to his constituents as a key reason for his defection.
Sources close to the Senator disclosed that his move to the APC followed weeks of strategic consultations with political leaders both within Enugu State and at the national level. His defection is expected to alter the political dynamics in Enugu, where the Labour Party made significant gains in the last elections.
Senator Chukwu’s defection is particularly significant given his emergence as the successor to his late brother, Senator Chimaroke Chukwu, whose tragic death before the 2023 elections paved the way for Kelvin’s rise to the Senate. Political observers believe this move signals a broader realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC leadership, while receiving Senator Chukwu, expressed delight over his decision, describing it as “a bold step toward strengthening the party’s presence in the South-East.” Meanwhile, Labour Party stakeholders in Enugu are reportedly holding emergency meetings to assess the implications of this development.
This defection is expected to spark intense political reactions across Enugu State and the South-East region, especially among supporters of the Labour Party who view Senator Chukwu as one of their key figures in the National Assembly.
