Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State have defected to the Labour Party and unanimously endorsed Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for a second term in office.
The new LP members include the member representing Ukwa East State Constituency, Hon. Lewis Obianyi; former Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Paul Taribo of the APC; former commissioner and former Ukwa East Transition Committee Chairman, and former ASPM/ISS GM, Hon. Ossy Nwamuo; and two-time Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Chinedu Brown, among other political figures from the area.
Welcoming them to the Labour Party in Ohanku community on Thursday, Otti thanked them for joining the party and appreciated their support and endorsement for his second term in office in 2027.
The governor announced that electric power, which has eluded the entire Ndoki land for more than two decades as reported by residents, would be fully restored by the end of March 2026.
“If we could give power to not just Ukwa West, but Etche, which is not part of Abia State, we have no choice but to give you power.
“I understand you already have power drawn here, so you probably require transformers and a smart metering system. If that is what is required, you can take it from me that before the end of March, you will have power here,” Otti stated.
He instructed the Commissioner for Works to complete the remaining section of Ohanku Road to extend it into the Ohanku community.
He also assured residents that the Obohia Road reconstruction project, though very expensive, would be extended to Obohia village in Ukwa East LGA, along with work on internal roads as requested by Senator Wabara.
He added that disputes around the border, particularly in Akirika Obu, were being handled, noting that he had discussed the matter with his Akwa Ibom State counterpart to ensure that peace is permanently restored.
On their request for the recovery of Abia Palm, he said his government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an international company involved in palm production and palm produce.
The governor said his administration had completed the renovation and retrofitting of 11 primary healthcare centres in Ukwa East, noting that four had been made functional, while the remaining ones would be functionalised within the next 45 days.
He directed the Mayor of Ukwa East to carry out palliative work on the roofs of the school blocks where the event took place, assuring that he would subsequently undertake full rehabilitation of the school.
Otti asked the Ukwa East Traditional Rulers Council to defer the conferment of the chieftaincy title they intended to bestow on him until after his tenure in 2031, stating that he believes public office holders should not be honoured with awards during their tenure.
The PUNCH