In what looks like a setback after its 2023 governorship election victory, the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State has lost the 17 local championship seats in the November 2 local government elections.
Relatively known Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the State won 15 and two chairmanship seats, respectively.
Chairman of the State’s Independent Electoral Commission, George Chima, announced the results on Saturday at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia, the State capital.
The YPP won in Osisioma and Ugwunagbo LGAs, while the ZLP took Arochukwu, Ohafia, Bende, Umunneochi, Isuikwuato, Umuahia North, and Ikwuanno.
Others LGAs won by ZLP are Umuahia South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Aba North, Aba South, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West.
LEADERSHIP reports that while flagging off the ZLP campaign for the election in Aba penultimate week, the state chairman of the party, Chris Onukwue, had said the party would win the elections.
He charged both the ZLP candidates and the leaders to take the campaign to every nook and cranny of the state to ensure total victory.
At another event on the same day in the city, State governor, Alex Otti, elected on the platform of LP, had called on the electorate to vote for candidates who share his vision and agenda for the state irrespective of their party.
Otti explained: “What Abians should be concerned about is those who will replicate my developmental blu print at the grassroots level.”