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On Thursday, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) launched its campaign for the upcoming Local Government Area (LGA) elections across Abia State’s 17 councils.
The event, held at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, attracted a massive crowd and led to significant traffic congestion in the East Street area and other main routes in Aba South LGA.
Reports indicate a division within the Abia Labour Party (LP). The split has resulted in two factions: one supports Governor Alex Otti, while the other aligns with the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee.
It is reported that the faction loyal to Governor Otti has moved to the ZLP in preparation for the council elections scheduled for November 2.
During the rally, the ZLP’s chairmanship candidates, led by Chinedu Ekeke of Isuikwuato, received the party’s flag and addressed the crowd.
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Ekeke emphasized the party’s intention to introduce a people-centric leadership style at the local government level and called on Abia residents to back the ZLP.
“Abia should expect a new type of leadership, one where the average citizen is prioritized, where those without connections to power have equal rights as those who do,” Ekeke declared. “We aim to make life easier for the people.”
On the ZLP’s prospects in the upcoming elections, Ekeke expressed confidence in the party’s appeal to voters.
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He cited the success of smaller parties in recent elections as a sign that the ZLP could challenge the established political giants in Abia.
Ekeke also shared plans to curb rural-to-urban migration, promising a focus on agricultural development and skills training.
“If people can earn a living in rural areas, there’s no need to move to the cities,” he stated.
“In my LGA, we will invest in agriculture and establish small-scale industries to provide jobs locally.”
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Additionally, he highlighted the party’s vision for youth empowerment through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
“We will train young people so they can work remotely for international companies, earning foreign currency without leaving their communities.”
Addressing potential funding challenges, Ekeke mentioned the Supreme Court ruling that ensures financial allocations to local governments, alongside strategies to enhance local Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other creative funding methods.
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