Abia State Politics: Labour Party Members Defect to Zenith Labour Party Amid Leadership Crisis

In a shocking turn of events, members of the Labour Party in Abia State have begun filing for positions in the upcoming local government election under the banner of the Zenith Labour Party. This development comes as the Labour Party grapples with a lingering leadership crisis, from the national to state levels ¹.

The crisis deepened after a court declared Comr. Julius Abure as the authentic Chairman of the party.

In an interview, an anonymous Labour Party member revealed that all genuine Labour Party aspirants for the November 2 poll have switched allegiance to the Zenith Labour Party. This mass defection is attributed to the party’s internal conflicts and the desire for a more viable platform.

Notably, some local governments where Labour Party candidates won primary elections through consensus candidacy are now flying the Zenith Labour Party flag for the forthcoming local government poll. This shift may lead to a new political party taking control of the local government, while the state remains under the governance of another party.

The Labour Party’s woes in Abia State are compounded by the fact that the current governor, Alex Otti, is a member of the party, yet many of his party members are rooting for the Zenith Labour Party. This dynamic has created an intriguing scenario, with potential implications for the state’s political landscape.