UKWA POLITICAL LEADERS DEFECT TO LABOUR PARTY AS GOV. OTTI WINS MORE SUPPORT FOR 2027

About 66 political heavyweights from different parties and hundreds of their supporters in Ukwa West Local Government Area have formally joined Governor Alex Otti’s Labour Party (LP).

The defectors include the APGA House of Representatives candidate for Ukwa in the 2023 elections, Hon. Adinigwe Ugochukwu Nwoke; former Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ngozi Ulunwa; former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ralph Egbu; Hon. Uche Nwaele; Ugoeze Young Ogbonna; Dr. Lucky Ejiogu, among others.

Welcoming them on Friday, August 29, at Obehie Central School, Ukwa West, Governor Otti thanked the new entrants for identifying with his administration’s vision and urged others to join the “moving train” of rebuilding Abia State.

“The major contribution and impact this government has set out to make is to restore the dignity of the Abia person. That is why when you see us building roads, schools, hospitals, and health centres, it is all geared towards the restoration of that dignity,” the governor said.

Responding to requests from the Mayor of Ukwa West, Pastor Dike Briggs Nwankwo, Otti announced that his administration would construct a mini stadium in the area and directed that the site be resurveyed and fenced. He also appealed to the host community of Inner Galaxy company to allow the firm to build its proposed skills acquisition centre at Obehie without dispute.

Speakers at the event, including Commissioner for Environment Hon. Philemon Ogbonna, ASOPADEC GM Venerable Joshua Onyeike, and Acting State LP Chairman Sir Nwaeze Oti, described the mass defection as a testimony to the governor’s performance.

In their remarks, some of the new entrants, including Chief Ralph Egbu and Hon. Adinigwe Nwoke, pledged total support for Otti and moved a motion adopting him as the consensus candidate of Asa land for the 2027 governorship election—a motion that was unanimously endorsed by the crowd.

The event also featured the presentation of LP flags to the defectors and was graced by dignitaries such as former Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Secretary to the State Government Prof. Kenneth Kalu, Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, mayors, special advisers, and several top government officials.