The National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP), led by Julius Abure, has accused Governor Alex Otti of manipulating the candidate selection process for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 2 in Abia State.
This allegation was made in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, under the headline “Ensuring the Integrity of Local Government Elections in Abia State.”
The statement follows a recent disavowal by the faction of the party aligned with Governor Otti, which rejected the committee established by Abure to oversee candidate selection for the council elections.
The committee, chaired by former LP chairman Ceekay Igara and including state secretary Andrew Ohiagba, has cautioned the governor to refrain from interfering in the electoral process and to allow the party to manage its affairs independently.
Ifoh criticized Otti’s actions, emphasizing that such interference was precisely what prompted the Supreme Court to grant autonomy to local government administrations in the first place.
He asserted that local councils should serve as vital drivers of grassroots development and progress.
“It is against this backdrop that the Labour Party expresses serious concern regarding the management of the upcoming local government elections in Abia State under Governor Alex Otti’s leadership. We must remain vigilant to ensure the electoral process is free from any undue influence or manipulation by those currently in power. We respectfully urge Governor Otti to set a positive example and let Abia State shine as a model of democratic values in Nigeria,” stated Ifoh.
The LP firmly stated its demand for the freedom to conduct its primaries without outside interference, stressing that party members in Abia State should be permitted to select their candidates through a fair and transparent democratic process.
The group maintained that candidates, whether appointed or elected, must embody the party’s principles of integrity, accountability, and dedication to public service.
“While we recognize Governor Otti’s leadership, we cannot ignore the potential for power abuse that has plagued local government elections in numerous states across Nigeria.
“As a leader who attained office through the collective support of the populace, we expect Otti to honor the very principles that facilitated his rise. He must resist the urge to compromise the electoral process and instead use this election as a standard for others to follow,” the statement concluded.
