The member representing Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, has formally defected to the Labour Party after resigning from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Ikwechegh announced his move after a closed-door meeting with Abia State Governor Alex Otti at the governor’s country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. He said the visit was to officially inform Otti of his decision and to seek his blessings as leader of the party in the state.

“I visited the governor this evening to receive his blessings. As you may or may not know, I have received my Labour Party card as a new member of the party,” the lawmaker told journalists.

Ikwechegh confirmed that he had already resigned from APGA before joining the Labour Party and dismissed speculation that he had defected to the All Progressives Congress following his recent appearance at an Iftar dinner with President Bola Tinubu.

He explained that his presence at the event was purely ceremonial and should not be interpreted as a shift to the ruling party. “There have been speculations that after I met with the President, I joined the APC. This is not true. We went to observe the Iftar with the President, and I appreciate him for that fatherly gesture,” he said.

Ikwechegh stressed that his decision was driven by political conviction and admiration for Otti’s governance style, describing the governor as a result-oriented leader whose performance in Abia had reshaped his own political calculations.

According to him, the visible transformation in the state under the Labour Party administration convinced him that the party offers the best platform for progressive-minded politicians. He also underscored the importance of a vibrant opposition in Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, arguing that it strengthens accountability and good governance.

The lawmaker urged Abia residents and Nigerians who share similar ideals to identify with the Labour Party, which he said is positioning itself as a credible alternative at the national level.

Also speaking, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency and Leader of the Labour Party caucus in the National Assembly, Ginger Onwusibe, welcomed Ikwechegh’s defection, describing it as a major boost for the party.

Onwusibe likened the development to a football club signing a key player, insisting that Ikwechegh’s entry would strengthen the Labour Party’s structure and enhance its prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.