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Abia Lawmaker Defects From PDP To Labour Party.
A lawmaker in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Lewis Obianyi, representing Ukwa East State Constituency, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party, citing Governor Alex Otti’s inclusive leadership style and visible achievements as reasons for his decision.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Obianyi made the move alongside a group of prominent political stakeholders from Ukwa East Local Government Area, including former Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Paul Taribo; Chief Bright Benson; and Lady Chinedu Brown, among others.
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Speaking during a visit to Governor Otti at the Government House on Saturday, Obianyi said he had informed the governor as far back as September 2023 of his intention to change political parties, describing the defection as the fulfilment of that plan.
He said, “People are witnessing real development. What we now see are not mere promises or audio infrastructure, but projects that can endure the test of time.”
Obianyi praised the governor’s leadership, noting that Otti had laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of Abia State.
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“As it stands today, Your Excellency, you have laid a foundation that even beyond 2031, anyone who succeeds you will find it easier to take Ndi Abia to greater heights,” he added.
“We are not in search of a political platform for its own sake; we are in search of good governance, and that is what you have provided,” Obianyi said.
In his response, Governor Otti welcomed Obianyi and the other decampees into the Labour Party and announced that a formal reception would soon be held in Ukwa East.
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“The most important thing is that we all belong to one party called Abia State, and everything we do must be geared towards the welfare and happiness of our people,” Otti said.
The governor also revealed that a modern general hospital would be completed in Ukwa East before the end of the year, explaining that the earlier delay was caused by the unsuitability of the initially proposed site.
“To the glory of God, an Ndoki son donated a large expanse of land, which was handed over to the contractor on Friday. I have directed the contractor to deliver the project before the end of the year,” he stated.
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Otti thanked the delegation for the gift of Akwete cloth and said his administration, through the Office of the First Lady, was working to promote the fabric on a global scale.
He assured the Ndoki people of government support towards commercialising and expanding the production of the iconic cloth.
Earlier, the Mayor of Ukwa East, Chibunna Akara, formally presented the defectors to the governor, noting that they came from different political parties. He added that the date for their official reception in the local government area would be announced soon.
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Among those who joined the Labour Party are Paul Taribo, former Deputy Majority Leader of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly; Chief Bright Benson, former YPP House of Representatives candidate; Lady Chinedu Brown, a two-time Commissioner for Women Affairs; Hon. Hyacinte Iheanacho, PDP ward chairmen coordinator in Ukwa East; Prof. Kamalu of the University of Port Harcourt; Barr. Ben Ogbonna, a retired Superintendent of Police; Mrs Esther Bright, coordinator of Women Traders in Politics; Chief Theresa Aja, PDP woman leader in Ukwa East; Elder Israel Bethel, former Special Adviser on Agriculture; and Dr Felix Idah Waboso, Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress, Ndoki clan.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, was also present during the visit.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has argued that the North is not disadvantaged in Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangement under democratic rule.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the statement during an interview on Arise Television, where he spoke on zoning, fairness, and political balance in the country.
He noted that since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, the South has held the presidency for about 18 years, while the North has governed for roughly 10 years.
According to him, this should be taken into account when discussing which region has benefited more from the country’s power rotation system. He also maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the only major political party with zoning clearly embedded in its constitution.
“The South has governed for 18 years and the North for 10. So who is really in deficit if we are being fair? Even more broadly, the only party with zoning formally entrenched is the PDP,” he said.
Atiku also recalled the constitutional conference held during the military era under General Sani Abacha, where he led a group that opposed the inclusion of rotational presidency in the constitution.
He said the proposal, championed by the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, was rejected at the time because his group had majority support among delegates.
According to him, Ekwueme later acknowledged that the decision may not have been ideal during his funeral years later. Atiku added that he now believes a rotational system, if adopted earlier, could have ensured a more balanced distribution of power across Nigeria’s regions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has spoken about the source of his wealth, saying it was built long before he entered politics through years of business investments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he explained that his fortune came from ventures across logistics, real estate, agriculture, education, and the oil and gas sector.
He said he was already a fully established businessman before joining politics and had interests spread across different parts of the economy.
According to him, his financial background has never been in doubt because of how his wealth was acquired.
Atiku also recalled his role in the early formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that he was among its key founders and also contributed financially to its establishment.
He further noted that during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a panel was set up to investigate his activities. He said the panel included figures such as Nasir El-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu, and that he allowed the process to proceed without relying on his immunity.
“I made my money through business before joining politics. I invested in oil and gas, logistics, agriculture and other sectors,” he said.
“I was already established in business before I came into politics.”
“I played a major role in setting up the PDP and contributed financially to its formation.”
“No one accused me of corruption because my sources of income were clear.”
“A panel was set up to investigate me, and I allowed it to go ahead without hiding behind immunity,” he added.
Atiku remains active in Nigerian politics and is currently seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted approval for a fresh legal move seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to reopen investigations into the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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