In the recently concluded Abia State local government elections, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) emerged as the major victor, clinching 15 of the 17 local government chairmanship seats, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) won the remaining two. The Labour Party (LP), led by Governor Alex Otti, did not secure any wins, a situation largely attributed to internal leadership crises within the party.
The election results were announced by George Chima, chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia. Chima praised the electoral process, describing the polls as “free, fair, and credible,” and noted the peaceful atmosphere maintained throughout the elections, crediting security agencies and participating political parties for ensuring an orderly process.
LP Performance In The Elections
The LP’s poor performance in Abia may be tied to ongoing tensions between Governor Alex Otti and LP’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, regarding party control. Leading up to the election, Otti and his cabinet were notably absent from the LP’s campaign launch, with some of his loyalists reportedly joining the ZLP ahead of the elections. This internal discord saw the LP losing ground at a critical juncture, with the absence of key leaders affecting its competitiveness.
On October 8, 2024, a federal high court in Abuja ruled in favor of the Abure-led leadership, affirming Abure as the legitimate national chairman and ordering INEC to recognize his position. However, the court’s ruling came too late to strengthen LP’s footing in the Abia polls.
The outcome has intensified debates about the impact of party cohesion on election success, as well as the strategic influence of LP’s internal dynamics on local politics. With ZLP’s sweeping success, Abia’s political landscape signals a potential shift, while LP faces an uphill battle to restore unity and regain influence in the state.
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