Agency report
The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has won 15 of the 17 chairmanship positions in the Abia local government elections.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured victory in the remaining two LGAs.
The Labour Party (LP), the political party of incumbent governor Alex Otti, failed to secure any LGA.
George Chima, chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), announced the results at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.
“We have carried out the duty we were inaugurated on September 5 to undertake,” NAN quoted Chima as saying.
“It was not an easy task, but we went out on our way to create awareness about the elections across the state.
“It must be noted that, in recent times, this commission has not conducted an election where over 12 political parties took part, this on its own is a plus to the commission.”
The ABSIEC chair described the polls as “free, fair and credible” and said they successfully took place across 17 LGAs.
“I congratulate the winners and the losers too, because in any election there must be winners and losers,” Chima said.
“The most important thing is that Abia has been peaceful and I want the peace to continue.
“I appreciate the security agencies for their support, political parties for playing the game according to the rule.”
The protracted leadership crisis in the LP may be connected to the party’s performance in the Abia LGA election.
Otti and members of his cabinet were not present when the LP flagged off its campaign for the election.
It is believed that the governor’s loyalists, who were candidates in the election, had moved to the ZLP before the polls.
Otti and Julius Abure, the national chairman of LP, have been at loggerheads over the tussle for the control of the party.
On October 8, 2024, a federal high court in Abuja validated the Abure-led leadership of the party and the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced the LP executives.
Nwite also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman of the party.