Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) achieved a commanding victory in the Abia State Local Government Elections on Saturday, securing 15 of the 17 chairmanship positions. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) claimed the remaining two seats.
Truth Live News gathered that the announcement came from the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) in Umuahia, where ABSIEC Chairman, Prof. George Chima, hailed the election as “free, fair, and credible.”
“We have fulfilled our responsibility since our inauguration on September 5,” Chima stated, referencing the short preparation time to organize the elections. He commended the commission’s inclusivity, with over a dozen political parties participating—a benchmark for broad political engagement across the state.
The elections covered chairmanship and councillorship positions across Abia’s 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs). ZLP took key areas, including Isiala Ngwa South, Umuahia North and South, and Aba North and South, among others. Meanwhile, YPP won in Osisioma and Ugwunagbo LGAs. Prof. Chima praised the peaceful nature of the elections, crediting collaboration among security agencies, political parties, and the electorate.
The success marks a political shift that could ripple through Abia’s political landscape. Some observers see the sweeping win as a strategic move akin to Governor Fubara’s pre-emptive efforts to build his own base in Rivers State through Rivers. Speculation has also emerged that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who has faced growing discontent within the Labour Party, may defect to ZLP. Such a move could potentially bring influential figures like Peter Obi to reconsider their political affiliations.
This election result signals deeper implications, both for Abia’s future leadership and the stability of Nigeria’s broader political framework. The question remains: will ZLP’s local success in Abia become a blueprint for broader political shifts in the state and beyond? As political fault lines continue to emerge, the ramifications could redefine the landscape leading up to the next national elections.