Otti welcomes 2 defecting YPP lawmakers to LP

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

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Governor Alex  Otti welcomes Hon. Nwogu and Hon. Ahuama, former YPP members to Labour Party. Standing right, the Majority Leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Okoro.

Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, received the two members of Abia State House of Assembly who defected to Labour Party from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

The decampees are Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu (representing Osisioma North State Constituency) and Hon. Fine Ahuama (representing Osisioma South State Constituency).

Welcoming the decampees into the Labour Party family at the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti noted that the two members have always supported his administration right from inception not minding their political affiliation.

He told the decampee-lawmakers that they would enjoy equal opportunity with old members of the party, just the party would provide level playing ground for all, urging the lawmakers to work towards bringing the entire Osisioma people into the party for greater democracy dividends.

“So, I want to welcome you, on behalf of our great party.

I want to reassure you that this step is going to be one of the best decisions you have made.”

“Our party has something peculiar, there’s nothing different between the old and new members, you are going to enjoy the privilege every member is enjoying. The Labour party provides a level playing field for everybody, so you’ve come to the right place,” Gov Otti assured them.

He reiterated that his government would only approach the state lawmakers with matters that would be to the best interest of Abians.

“One thing that I have assured members of the House of Assembly, is that because we are running a transparent kind of leadership, we will never come to you with anything untoward, we don’t have anything to hide because we are working for our people,” the Governor said.

“I even told them in Rivers State that when you are Governing people and they’re not happy, there’s something wrong with the leadership. This is because the essence of Governance is stewardship and I am happy because my people are happy,” he added.

Otti therefore congratulated the two lawmakers for defecting to Labour Party, describing it as a bold step, adding that he was looking forward to receiving the Governorship candidate of their party in the last general elections.

Earlier, while presenting the two decampees to the Governor, the leader of the House and Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Uchenna Kalu said the two former YPP lawmakers had earlier, during plenary, announced their defection to Labour Party on account of the Service-oriented leadership style of the Governor and congratulated them for their courage.

In their speeches, the member representing Osisioma North State Constituency, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu and his Osisioma South counterpart, Hon. Fine Ahuama, informed the Governor that they had earlier during plenary announced their defection to Labour Party because of his monumental achievements in office, describing the recent flag-off of the Osisioma-Ekeakpara road as one of the many projects of the Governor in their constituencies.

They explained that belonging to the same party with Governor Alex Otti would enable them to join the Governor in deepening democracy at the grassroots for the benefit of their constituents.

Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emereuwa, took to his X handle to explain that Hon. Nwogu said he joined LP because YPP expelled him for anti-party activities, did not give any reason for Ahuama jumping ship.

Recall that at the inauguration of 8th Abia State Assembly on June 14, 2023, the PDP had the majority with 11 members,  LP had 10 members, YPP had two members and the APC had only one member. The House has 24 members.

However, the LP dropped to nine members after the Court of Appeal in Lagos in November 2023 nullified the election of Destiny Nwangwu of the LP representing Aba North State Constituency.

The court declared Aaron Uzodike the winner of the March 18, 2023 House of Assembly election for Abia North State Constituency. This development increased PDP’s tally to 12, while LP’s membership strength dropped to nine.

But with the latest defection of the two YPP lawmakers to LP,  the ruling party in Abia now has 11. 

Speculations are rife that it would be a matter of time before PDP lawmakers would swell Labour Party’s numbers in the legislature.