The leadership of the Labour Party on Thursday raised concerns on the handling of the forthcoming local government elections in Abia State under the leadership of the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr Alex Otti, and caution for the electoral process be conducted in a fair, transparent and democratic manner, free from Interferences or manipulation using Executive Powers, so as to reflect the ideals and principle of the Party.
This appeal from the leadership of the Party seems to be farfetched as Labour Party members in Abia State took the streets to protest what they describe as the imposition of candidates by party leadership. The Demonstrators gathered in both Aba and Umuahia on Friday to express their grievances ahead of the elections.
Despite heavy rain, determined party members from various wards in Aba North converged outside the Labour Party Secretariat on Faulks Road, wielding placards with inscriptions voicing their opposition. The protest followed the sale of nomination forms, which began on Wednesday, October 2nd, and concluded on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024.
The protesters accused the Labour Party’s leadership, specifically Governor Alex Otti, of attempting to impose Mr. Iheke Kalu as the Aba North Local Government chairmanship candidate without proper consultation. They argued that the party’s grassroots members had been sidelined in the decision-making process.
One of the protesters, who spoke on behalf of the group, expressed their frustration, saying:
“Governor Otti appointed his commissioners without consulting the party, and we accepted that, even though we didn’t know them. Then he brought in mayors for Aba North, again without consulting us, and we let it slide. But now, when it comes to choosing our Local Government Chairmen, which directly affects the grassroots, he is trying to impose candidates on us. We will not accept it. The party is supreme, and Dr. Otti must listen to us. We cannot have non-members of the Labour Party leading Aba North.”
In response to the protest, the Secretary of the Labour Party in Aba North, Elder Michael Onwutuebe, expressed surprise at the demonstration, claiming he had no prior knowledge of the protest or the alleged primaries.
“I only became aware of the protest this morning. Many of us were preparing for a burial in Ideato, which is why we were dressed in uniforms. But suddenly, party members stormed the secretariat, believing a primary election was being held here. They were concerned about rumors that candidates had already been selected, with some individuals receiving nomination forms. I told them I had no knowledge of this,” he explained.
The protest, which began in Aba, later shifted to Umuahia, as disgruntled party members sought to amplify their message. Their demand remains clear: no imposition of non-party members as candidates in the upcoming Aba North Local Government elections.
