In a significant political development, 66 prominent politicians from various parties, along with their supporters, have defected to the Labour Party in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The defection, which took place on Friday, was facilitated by Governor Alex Otti.
Ukwa West has traditionally been a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party, with the PDP winning elections in the area from 1999 to 2023. However, the tide appears to be shifting, as several key politicians, including Adinigwe Ugochukwu Nwoke, former Deputy Speaker, and Ngozi Ulunwa, former Secretary to the Abia State government, have joined the Labour Party. Other notable defectors include Ralph Egbu, Uche Nwaele, Ugoeze Ogbonna, and Lucky Ejiogu, who were previously affiliated with the PDP, APGA, and other parties.
Governor Otti, while receiving the new members at Obehie Central School, expressed his gratitude and encouraged others who are still undecided to join the Labour Party. He emphasized that his administration’s primary focus is on restoring the dignity of the Abia people. As part of his efforts to achieve this goal, Governor Otti announced plans to construct a mini-stadium in Ukwa West and directed the Mayor of the Council to survey and fence the proposed land.
The Governor also addressed a lingering issue in the Obehie community, where disagreements had arisen over the location of a proposed skills acquisition centre. He urged the community to allow the Inner Galaxy company to choose a suitable location for the project, stressing the importance of moving forward with the initiative.
The acting Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia State, Nwaeze Oti, welcomed the new members and attributed the party’s growing popularity to Governor Otti’s performance. The defection of these prominent politicians and their supporters is seen as a significant boost to the Labour Party’s presence in the region. As the political landscape in Abia State continues to evolve, the implications of this development will be closely watched in the coming months.
