The crisis ravaging the Labour party has reared its head as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) won 15 of the 17 chairmanship positions in the Abia local government elections.
In the election that held on Saturday, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured victory in the remaining two LGAs.
The development left the Labour Party, the political party of incumbent governor, Alex Otti, with no council.
Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), George Chima, announced the results at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.
NAN quoted Chima as saying, “We have carried out the duty we were inaugurated on September 5 to undertake.
“It was not an easy task but we went out of 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.”
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The ABSIEC chair described the polls as “free, fair and credible,” and said they successfully took place across 17 local councils.
He said, “I congratulate the winners and the losers too, because in any election there must be winners and losers.
“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.”
Many believed that the protracted leadership crisis in the LP may be connected to the party’s performance in the Abia LGA election.
The governor 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.
Julius Abure, the national chairman of LP, and Otti have been at loggerheads over the tussle for the control of the party.
A federal high court in Abuja on October 8, 2024, 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 recognize Abure as the legitimate chairman of the party.
