Abia
Prominent All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party figures in Abia State’s Ukwa East Local Government Area defected to the Labour Party on Thursday and endorsed Governor Alex Otti for a second term in 2027.
The defectors include Ukwa East lawmaker Hon. Lewis Obianyi, ex-APC Majority Leader Hon. Paul Taribo, former commissioner Hon. Ossy Nwamuo, and two-time Women Affairs Commissioner Lady Chinedu Brown. Otti welcomed them in Ohanku community, thanking their support.
He promised steady electricity to Ndoki land—dark for over 20 years—by end of March. “If we could give power to Ukwa West and even Etche in Rivers State, we have no choice but to give you power,” Otti said. He pledged transformers and smart meters where lines already exist.
The governor tasked Works Commissioner to finish Ohanku Road into the community and extend pricey Obohia Road reconstruction to Obohia village, plus internal roads as requested by ex-Senate President Adolphus Wabara. He updated on border peace talks with Akwa Ibom governor over Akirika Obu disputes.
Otti revealed a signed deal with an international firm to revive Abia Palm. He noted 11 primary health centres renovated in Ukwa East—four now open, rest in 45 days—and directed the Ukwa East Mayor to fix school roofs at the event site ahead of full rehab.
He politely deferred a chieftaincy title from traditional rulers until after 2031, saying public officers should wait.
Wabara, Obianyi, Uzoma Nkem Abonta, Ambassador Okey Emuche, and Lady Brown said Ukwa people united behind Otti’s performance—not party politics. Wabara moved the endorsement motion, seconded by Obianyi and cheered by the crowd.
They praised the first Ukwa East general hospital flag-off, school fixes, and health centres. Requests matched Otti’s pledges: power, Abia Palm revival, road extensions from Aba, and Akirika Obu peace.
Ukwa East Mayor Hon. Chibunna Akara and Eze Ikeagwuchi Ekeke for Asa community listed achievements and challenges, vowing re-election support. Information Commissioner Prince Okey Kanu and others attended; traditional rulers prayed and gifted Otti.
This mass defection boosts Otti’s Labour Party base in oil-rich Ukwa East, where projects like power and roads hit daily pains of darkness and bad routes. As 2027 heats up, such cross-party backing could solidify his grip amid Abia’s shifting politics.