By Dipo Olowookere
Former Governor of Abia State, Mr Orji Uzor Kalu, has formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection to the party came few days after he resigned from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), the party he formed some years ago.
Mr Kalu, who was received into the APC on Wednesday in Abuja by the John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee, denied joining the ruling party to get a soft-landing in his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but rather to contribute his quota the political and economic development of the country.
He promised to ensure he and his team win the south east for the APC in 2019, stressing he was in the party to work.
The former Governor, who registered as an APC member on Sunday, said he succumbed to pressures from his friends and well-wishers to also contribute his quota to building the party in Nigeria especially in the South East.
In his remarks, Chairman of the APC, Mr John Oyegun, described Mr Kalu as a brilliant and experienced politician, whose input was needed to help lift the country from its current economic challenges.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya