Enugu East Senator, Kelvin Chukwu Dumps Labour Party for APC

Fresh controversy has erupted in Enugu politics following reports that Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East, has left the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senator, who was elected in 2023 under the LP platform, is said to have cited the prolonged internal crisis within the party as his reason for switching allegiance.

According to reports circulating on Thursday, including a headline shared by Sahara Reporters on its social media page, Chukwu’s defection marks a major shift in Enugu State’s political landscape.

Medis reports that reported the defection also carried the story, noting that the senator blamed unresolved disputes and factionalism in LP for his decision.

However, the development remains surrounded by uncertainty. While media reports are framing the move as confirmed, Chukwu has in the past dismissed similar defection claims.

In February 2025, a viral letter alleged he had resigned from LP to join the Zenith Labour Party, a claim his office quickly denounced as fake.

Again in July, community leaders in Enugu East warned him against abandoning LP, and his aides maintained he had no such plans.

The senator’s political journey has drawn significant public attention since his emergence.

He succeeded his late elder brother, Oyibo Chukwu, who was assassinated just before the 2023 elections. His victory under the Labour Party was widely seen as symbolic, consolidating the party’s strong performance in Enugu State.

If the reports of his defection are accurate, it would deal a blow to LP’s presence in the Senate and strengthen APC’s push to expand its influence in the Southeast.

But until Senator Chukwu himself issues a formal statement or tenders a letter of resignation to the Senate President, the move will continue to attract skepticism given past denials.

Political watchers say the situation reflects both the internal turmoil of the Labour Party and the broader realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, where defections and party shifts are expected to play a decisive role.