Controversy erupted on Monday during the Labour Party’s councillorship primaries as two candidates emerged as winners for Ohafor ward in the Ohafia Local Government Area.
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) had announced last week that the local government election would take place on November 2, 2024.
The election timetable, which was unveiled during a meeting between the state electoral body and political parties, indicated that primaries were to be conducted from Wednesday, September 25, to October 5, 2024.
Professor George Chima, Chairman of ABSIEC, disclosed both the poll date and the timetable at the Commission’s headquarters in Umuahia during a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of 18 political parties.
The Whisperer reports that a faction of Labour Party members loyal to the member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe), produced Obinna Oka as its candidate, while Ifeanyi Agwu Uchendu was declared as the winner of another primary organised by a different group led by chairmanship aspirant, Engr. Obinna Odum.
A chieftain of the party, who spoke to The Whisperer on the condition of anonymity, blamed Labour Party’s stakeholders for lack of unity and called for intervention from the state governor.
“There is no unity in our party anymore. It is time for Governor Alex Otti to act. Firstly, the issue of zoning should be resolved because we believe it is the turn of Ohafia South to produce the next chairman of the local government area. What happened today was an eyesore, as one of our leaders attempted to hijack everything. Some of the leaders resisted him by organizing a separate primary,” he stated.
The controversy has raised concerns among party stakeholders and could potentially affect the outcome of the upcoming local government elections if not resolved promptly.
