Governor Otti

Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Abia State and a key figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has explained the reasons behind his recent visit to Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party.

The former Deputy Governor, who also served as Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and Deputy Governor under ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, met with Governor Otti at his Nvosi country residence on Tuesday evening.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, Sir Oko Chukwu emphasized that the visit was aimed at encouraging the Governor to continue with his commendable development efforts in the state.

He said, “I needed to convey my personal feelings about the achievements of the Governor who, I must say, has done well by all standards.”

The former Speaker stressed that the visit was not politically motivated, highlighting that being in the opposition does not prevent one from recognizing positive developments.

He declared, “You see, let me tell you, I’ve gone around Abia State, especially those of us who come from Abia North. You just discovered that the kind of road infrastructure that we have there is unprecedented.”

“It’s not all about politics. No propaganda about it. The truth must be told. There is a remarkable improvement now across Abia State.”

“The Governor has been very intentional in virtually everything that he’s doing. Is it in terms of road infrastructure, health, or sports? He is very, very intentional, and the results are showing.”

“In fact, going by what he has done so far, and without mincing words, Gov. Otti has earned himself another tenure.”

He went on to commend the noticeable changes in towns like Aba and Umuahia, adding, “Just try and move around Aba, move around Umuahia, and other towns, the level of cleanliness is such that we have not witnessed before. I’m not the only one observing these. People on the street can confirm it.”

“So, I went to commend him and to appreciate him and let him know that all hands are on deck to support him. And looking at all that he has been able to do within just two years, you can just be reassured that the man has earned himself another tenure,” Sir Oko Chukwu declared.

When asked if his visit implied that the administration he served was a failure, he clarified, “I wasn’t there to compare administrations. The essence of my visit was simply to encourage the Governor whom I have observed is doing well.”

On speculation about a possible defection from the PDP to the Labour Party, the former Deputy Governor dismissed such notions, saying, “It was not the import of the visit, stressing that if at any time he felt like leaving the PDP, he would equally make such move public.”

Sir Oko Chukwu was accompanied by some of his close aides, including his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Obasi.

Hon. Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, who represents the Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has commended the recently concluded House of Representatives Open Week as a landmark initiative designed to promote legislative openness, transparency, and public engagement.

Speaking in Abuja, Professor Nnamchi described the programme as a vital opportunity for the legislature to showcase its achievements and subject its performance to public evaluation.

“It was a moment of introspection, assessing our performance in enacting impactful laws, sponsoring motions, and evaluating our constitutional oversight and intervention roles,” he stated.

The lawmaker highlighted the significance of beginning the Open Week with a focus on agriculture, calling it a strategic move rather than mere coincidence.

He emphasized agriculture’s foundational role in national development, describing it as essential to food sovereignty, sustainable economic growth, and mass employment.

Nnamchi praised the strong participation of youth and various stakeholders, noting that their involvement represented a key moment to reshape perceptions about agriculture.

“It’s time to awaken a new generation to the dignity, innovation, and national importance of agriculture, not just as a livelihood, but as a noble and transformative profession,” he said.

Professor Nnamchi also stressed the importance of leveraging legislative power to drive economic empowerment, advocating for laws that remove financial barriers, improve access to capital, and reframe agriculture as a central pillar of inclusive national prosperity.

Further, he called for greater political inclusion of women, not as a token gesture, but as a democratic necessity.

He also advocated for reserved positions for persons with disabilities, asserting their right to leadership roles in public life.

Additionally, Professor Nnamchi called for a clearer constitutional definition of the role of traditional rulers, positioning them not only as custodians of culture but also as stabilizing forces within the broader governance framework.

“Our traditional institutions can play an integral role in maintaining societal order and promoting community development. Their constitutional relevance must be clearly recognized,” he concluded.

Within the past year, Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) has witnessed a sharp decline in its ranks, losing at least 21 lawmakers across the Senate, House of Representatives and state assemblies.

This exodus comes amid escalating internal discord and structural weaknesses, raising doubts about the party’s trajectory ahead of the 2027 elections.

LP, once celebrated as a rising third force following the 2023 elections has endured a cascade of defections beginning in 2024.

Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (Imo East) kicked off the first wave by joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July, soon followed by five House members from Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Edo, and Plateau.

It didn’t stop there. Representative Dalyop Chollom (Plateau) resigned later the same year.

In Enugu, six State Assembly members including Ejike Eze, Johnson Ani and Princess Obiajulu Ugwu defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing “loss of faith in the party’s direction.”

By early 2025, more defections occurred. Representatives Dennis Agbo, Chidi Obetta, Sunday Umeha and state lawmaker Malachi‑Okey Onyechi all switched allegiances, along with FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe and Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

Mid‑2025 saw two more resignations by federal legislators; Chimaobi Atu and Prof. Paul Nnamchi.

Observers attribute the defections to unresolved internal disputes, most notably over the legitimacy of National Chairman Julius Abure, whose authority has been contested by Senator Nenadi Usman and a lack of coherent ideology or structural foundation.

“It has nothing to do with the party itself,” said National Publicity Secretary Obiorah Ifoh, dismissing claims that LP’s collapse stems from internal failure.

“It has much to do with the survival strategy of most politicians. Most of them believe that the party at the centre will give them more opportunity for reelection.”

Ifoh also warned that defectors could face legal repercussions:

“The party has decided to open a ‘Hall of Shame’ register for these lawmakers or any elected official of the party who engages in fraudulent defection without first relinquishing the mandate obtained under the party’s ticket.”

He explained the challenge of legal redress: “You know the status of the judiciary in Nigeria. As to when judgement will come, we do not know. That is beyond our powers.”

And unless Nigeria’s political culture shifts, party loyalty may remain secondary to political survival:

“In Nigeria, where there are politicians without a clear ideology, their only ideology is survival.”

Political analyst Professor Kamilu Sani Fage linked the LP’s decline to its overreliance on the personality of Peter Obi.

“Labour Party is one of Nigeria’s oldest parties, but it was Peter Obi’s entry in 2022 that made it relevant at the national stage,” Fage explained.

“Without a strong structure or unifying ideology, the party is vulnerable to external influence and internal sabotage.”

He cautioned that cross-party migration may involve coercion as well as inducements:

“This wave of defection from opposition parties to the ruling party is not a natural political movement. Some are being enticed, others are being threatened.”

With the 2027 elections less than two years away and the ADC gaining traction as the opposition’s coalition platform, the LP faces a critical juncture.

Its future now hinges on rebuilding internal coherence, arresting defections (especially that of Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia), and reconnecting with disillusioned voters or risk fading into political irrelevance.