In a shocking turn of events, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has secured 15 out of 17 local government councils in Abia State, with the Young Peoples Party (YPP) winning the remaining two. This development comes as Governor Alex Otti appears to have shifted his support from the Labour Party (LP) to the ZLP, an offshoot of LP.
The election results, announced by Prof. George Chima, Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, highlight the growing disquiet within the Labour Party . Chima praised the commission’s efforts, stating that conducting an election with over 12 participating parties was a milestone. He also emphasized the election’s credibility, fairness, and peaceful conduct across all 17 LGAs.
The ZLP’s victory underscores potential intra-party crisis within the Labour Party, which may hinder its ability to replicate its 2023 general election performance. Governor Otti’s endorsement of ZLP has significant implications for LP’s future in Abia State.
Prof. Chima congratulated the winners and urged all parties to maintain peace in Abia. “In any election, there are winners and losers, but the most important thing is that Abia remains peaceful. I urge everyone to uphold this peace”.