Barring any last-minute change, the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, is set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, July 3, 2025 or on a date not exceeding next week.
According to sources in the office of the Clerk, Senator Chukwu has already informed the Senate leadership of his plan to announce his defection on the floor of the Senate during plenary.
A source further disclosed that another senator from Enugu State is finalising arrangements to join the APC, signaling a major shift in the state’s political landscape.
Senator Kelvin Chukwu was elected during the rescheduled senatorial election in 2023, following the tragic death of his brother, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, who was the Labour Party’s original senatorial candidate before he was killed just days before the poll.
Public Reactions Trail Planned Defection
The news of Senator Chukwu’s imminent defection has sparked widespread reactions from political observers, party supporters, and political commentators in Enugu and beyond.
A political analyst, Mr. Uche Ibekwe, described the defection as “an unexpected twist.” He said, “The Labour Party rode on the goodwill of the masses, and for a key figure like Senator Chukwu to abandon ship so early sends a confusing message.”
Meanwhile, a youth leader from Enugu East, Chinelo Ugwu, expressed disappointment, saying: “The people voted for him out of sympathy after his brother’s tragic death, and now he is betraying that trust by moving to the APC.”
On the other hand, an APC stalwart who preferred to remain anonymous until the defection is official, welcomed the development, stating: “This is the beginning of a new dawn in Enugu. Senator Chukwu’s decision proves that APC is gaining strength where it was once dismissed.”
Some residents have also taken to social media to air their views. A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Senator Kelvin Chukwu’s defection shows Nigerian politicians have no ideology. It’s all about personal gain.”
