Much like the situation in Rivers State, where Governor Siminilayi Fubara allegedly used the APP to secure victory in the local government elections, are we witnessing a similar scenario unfolding in Abia State?
The internal turmoil within the Labour Party continues to unfold, with social media reports alleging that Governor Alex Otti’s faction is negotiating with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to nominate candidates for the upcoming local government elections in Abia on November 2, 2024.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State reestablished control over the Local Government structure, with his loyalists securing victories in 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions while running under the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Recall that in Rivers state, Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, had announced 22 chairmanship candidates of the Action Peoples Party (APP) as winners of last Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State. He however, announced a candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uzodinma Nwafor as winner of Etche LG poll in the state.
This situation might as well play again with tension arising and a growing factional divide within the Labour Party. Meanwhile, Julius Abure, the National Chairman recognized by the court, is solidifying his control over the party’s leadership.
The divide within the Labour Party has deepened considerably in recent weeks, especially regarding the candidate submissions for the upcoming chairmanship and councillorship elections. Abure's faction has officially submitted its candidate list to the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), a decision that has faced pushback from Otti’s camp, which is said to have endorsed a different group of candidates.
Abure’s leadership has been reinforced by recent court rulings that confirm his position and validate the party’s Nnewi congress, leaving Governor Otti’s faction with a challenging path ahead.
The faction’s purported attempt to negotiate with the Zenith Labour Party signals a strategic change, as this might indicate a move to look for a new platform to present their favored candidates for the local government elections.
The rift became clear when Abure’s faction nominated Kingsley Chinaemeze Okonkwo for the Umuahia North Chairmanship, with Fidelix Iheanacho Akwukwaegbu as his deputy. Meanwhile, Governor Otti’s faction reportedly backed Smart Ihuoma for the same role, creating a clash of interests. The competing candidate lists from both factions have sparked worries about the Labour Party’s capacity to present a united front in the upcoming elections.
Otti’s choice to pursue an alliance with the Zenith Labour Party indicates that his faction is bracing for a worst-case scenario if they cannot resolve the ongoing leadership conflict with Abure.
Although the discussions with the Zenith Labour Party have not yet been formalized, they could significantly change the political landscape of the upcoming local government elections. If successful, Otti’s faction could nominate its own candidates under the ZLP platform, allowing them to sidestep the Labour Party’s internal disputes.
As both factions gear up for the upcoming elections, the Labour Party’s future remains uncertain. The escalating crisis and the potential fragmentation of the party’s support in Abia State could have significant consequences, not just for the local government elections but also for the party’s overall political future.
