Ahead of the November 2 Local Government elections in Abia State, Members of the Labour Party in Aba North staged a protest in Aba and Umuahia over what they termed as Imposition of candidates on them ahead of the Local Council Elections in Abia State.
On Friday, members from different wards defied the rains to protest in front of the Aba North Labour Party Secretariat along Faulks Road, carrying placards with different inscriptions.
Members also protested against the sale of Nomination forms which went on sale on Wednesday October 2nd and was submitted on Thursday, October 3rd 2024.
The members alleged that Dr Alex Otti and the leadership of the party have perfected plans to impose Mr Iheke Kalu as LG chairmanship Aspirant of Aba North Local Government. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Ex-Officio 1 of Aba North Ward spoke to the media during the protest
“He [appointed] all his commissioners and never consulted the party. All the people he made commissioners, we don’t know them. He subsequently did his Mayors in Aba North. He brought a non member of Labour Party and foisted on us. He is not registered in any ward, he is not a party member and we condoned that. But coming to the LG Chairmen which for the grassroots, he came again to impose LG Chairmen on us. We don’t want that. Party is Supreme.
Dr Alex Otti should listen to the Party. We are party men and women in Aba North. We are saying no to any type of imposition. We are saying no to non member of Labour Party being the Chairman of Aba North, talk less of the councilors they are bringing to Aba North which are not members of the Labour.”
On his part, the Secretary of the party in Aba North, Elder Michael Onwutuebe said he only came to know of the planned protest on Friday morning.
“Actually today we have a burial, that is why we are wearing uniforms. And for that burial, the Chairmen, the Secretaries, the Women Leaders need to move for that burial at Ideato. But it is quite unfortunate that we are here and people who are members of the Labour Party stormed the office when they heard that there are primaries today. They came to intervene, that the primaries would not hold thinking that the primary is in this place. It is quite unfortunate that we are not aware that the primaries would hold here which is the primary concerning the Local Government elections.
Along the line we found out that some people had been given tickets and Nomination forms. I told them I am not aware of the nomination forms. They said they have been receiving calls for people people to come and sign the nomination forms for them with their voter’s cards and their membership cards of the Labour Party. That is the reason why they came here.”
After the Aba protest, the members proceeded to the Government House in Umuahia. On arrival at the Government House, the Acting State Chairman of the party, Hon. Emmanuel Nweze tried to disperse the members but to no avail, before the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha listened to the aggrieved members, and later assuring them that the Governor would hear their entreaties.