By Magnus Chukwudi
The Labour Party in Aba South Local Government Area LGA chapter, has welccomed 42 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to the ruling party and declared their support for the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti.
Receiving the defectors at the Aba South Local Government pavilion, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, representing the Aba South State Constituency, hailed them for acknowledging the good works of Governor Alex Otti, especially in communities in Aba South.
The Speaker described the defectors as high-profile politicians and political juggernauts, whose presence would strengthen the Labour Party in Aba South, stressing that even before they joined the Labour Party, they had been supportive, after seeing some of the governor’s progressive impacts.
He observed that, when he defected from the PDP to the Labour Party, he felt alone, but noted that the current wave of defections has boosted his confidence.
According to him, with the calibre of politicians joining the party, the Labour Party stands a strong chance of returning to government in 2027.
Rt Hon. Emeruwa described the new members as “game changers” who understand the dynamics of politics and can contribute significantly to consolidating the achievements already made in Abia State. He also advised the party supporters to register and obtain their party membership cards, describing it as their political “weapon.”
The Speaker said that membership registration has become extremely important, because the upcoming primary election will be a direct primary, with no room for delegates.
The Chairman of the Labour Party in Aba South, Mr Mmaju Egbebu, affirmed that the good works of Governor Alex Otti had attracted many people to the Labour Party, noting that “the banner of good work is everywhere and it has brought a lot of admiration from many quarters.”
He said that the defectors have seen the light and have chosen to identify with it, declaring that Governor Otti has completely surpassed what they initially expected.
The Governor has opened up their communities, providing them with roads, streetlights, and security.
Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), and Chairman of the occasion, Elder Okezie Ezengwa, commended the Abia State Governor for bringing sanity to Aba, the state’s commercial hub.
He said: “Through his efforts, there has been noticeable improvement in waste management, including clearing of refuse dumps and enhancing cleanliness across the city. His work demonstrates progress in tackling one of Aba’s major challenges, which is waste management, through effective enforcement and reduction of illegal dumping.”
Elder Ezengwa expressed happiness at the defections and urged the new members to work tirelessly to ensure Governor Otti’s re-election in 2027, thereby sustaining and consolidating the ongoing developmental strides in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, a former Transition Committee (TC) Chairman, Elder Chima Mbama, described PDP as a forgotten story in Aba South, stressing that, with their exit and that of their followers, PDP was completely gone in Aba South.
The defectors, who are mainly indigenous people of Aba, vowed to ensure that the campaign in their local government for Dr Alex Otti would be a mere formality and urged the governor to focus elsewhere for his campaign, as Aba South was already a done deal for him.
Also speaking, the immediate past Abia State Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barr Chiji Nkaru, said that even in his former party, he had always been pro-labour, pro-people, pro-progressives, and pro-development.