A meeting of the Labour Party Stakeholders in Umunneochi LGA, led by the State Working Committee (SWC) on Friday, reaffirmed the original leadership structure established in 2022, bringing an end to the protracted leadership dispute within the party at the Council level.
This breakthrough follows an earlier reconciliatory meeting convened by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, a few weeks ago, which set the stage for the resolution presided over by the State Chairman of the Party, Sir Emmanuel Otti.
Speaking to newsmen after the reconciliatory meeting held at the Labour Party Secretariat in Nkwoagu Isuochi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Due Process, Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, emphasized that with the reaffirmation of the original leadership structure within the LGA Executive, the Party would witness “incremental growth”.
Dr. Chukwu, a staunch member of the Labour Party in Umunneochi, noted that the Party, at the Council level, has been experiencing both growth and challenges, which he said were a true reflection of democracy in action.
According to Dr. Chukwu, the outcome of the meeting, was an implementation of Governor Otti’s directives, which reinforced the continuation of the original list of LGA and Ward Executives that had guided the party through the 2023 elections.
“What happened today was an implementation of the directives of his Excellency to the effect that the original list of LGA and Ward Executives that was in place in 2022 and carried through the process of the 2023 elections remains in place”, the Governor’s Aide stated.
Dr Chukwu who commended Governor Otti for his timely intervention, which facilitated the reconciliatory meeting, also thanked the party stakeholders for their willingness to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal.
He stressed the need for all hands to be on deck in driving grassroots engagement for the Labor Party in Umunneochi, as it expands influence and consolidate its gains in the Council area.
“With what happened today in Labour Party in Umunneochi LGA, it is expected that from today henceforth, all hands will be on deck to build the party.
“This is not about structure anymore, it is about implementing the directives of the leader of the party, Dr Alex Otti and ensuring New Members are welcomed into the fold, regular meetings are being called, benefits accruable to members of the party are being attracted and applied to them.
“In all democracy wins, so there will be incremental growth of the Labour Party in Umunneochi LGA”, Dr Chukwu stated.
Addressing the gathering, earlier, State Chairman of the party, Sir Emmanuel Otti called for the maintenance of the status quo within the party’s Executive structure and emphasized that those with ambitions for leadership positions should present themselves during the upcoming party congress, which he described as the appropriate forum for such aspirations.
Otti while pointing out that the leadership crisis could lead to setbacks for the party, warned that any attempt to undermine the directives would result in penalties as outlined in the party’s Constitution.
“Labour Party is a party the abides by the rules and regulations of our Constitution. If anybody goes contrary to the Constitution, we will sanction that person”, he warned.
Also, the Member Representing Umunneochi at the State House of Assembly, Hon Marthias Umeh, stressed the importance of putting aside personal differences to ensure the party’s continued progress and urged all members to unite for the common good of the party.
“My advice is that nobody should go outside what the party and to a large extent what the Governor has directed. Everybody should live in peace, the party Chairman, LGA party leadership should now summon everybody so that peace will reign in Umunneochi”, the House member advised.
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, SSA to the Governor on Public Communications, Mr Dodo Okafor, State House of Assembly Committee Member, Lady Grace Ibeh, were among notable stakeholders from Umunneochi LGA who attended the meeting.
