In a major political shift, the Abia State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) merged into the Labour Party (LP) on Saturday. Led by Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, the NNPP’s governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, the party praised Governor Alex Otti’s leadership, emphasizing his accomplishments that have placed Abia in the national spotlight.
During the handover of the party structure to Governor Otti and LP state chairman Emmanuel Oti, Dr. Ukpai commended Otti’s transformative leadership. “Otti has brought smiles to the faces of Abians and has placed the state on the map politically, socially, and spiritually,” Ukpai said. He further pledged support to help the governor elevate Abia to greater heights, adding, “We are all going to put hands together to make sure LP works and to make Abia a state to emulate.”
Dr. Ukpai’s running mate, Barrister Chiedozie Josiah, and NNPP state coordinator David Urum, also lauded Governor Otti’s servant leadership, describing him as a role model for other leaders.
In response to the merger, Governor Otti acknowledged the challenges he faced in his earlier attempts at leadership, stating that “God came and said, it is enough,” alluding to his previous electoral setbacks. He affirmed his government’s focus on the welfare of the people, insisting that the state’s development is for all citizens, not just the wealthy.
Receiving the defectors into the Labour Party, LP state chairman Emmanuel Oti attributed the surge in party membership to Otti’s leadership style. The governor’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Rt. Hon. Acho Obioma, expressed excitement about the NNPP’s decision to join forces with the LP, urging all parties involved to work together for the betterment of the state.
