Hurricane Labour Party Sweeps Nkporo Community In Abia State

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has commended the courage of a former deputy governor of the state, Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu for taking the bold step to dump the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and join the ruling party in the state, the Labour Party.

The governor gave the commendation at a ceremony to officially welcome the former deputy governor into the Labour Party. The event which took place at Etitiama Nkporo, the ward of the new entrant saw the entire ward collapse into the Labour Party.

“I’m glad that today he has given us a pass mark. He did not only give us a pass mark, he has come fully, full chested to join us, and I want to thank you.”

While commending Ọkọ Chukwu, Governor Otti revealed that the former Deputy Governor has been a close associate for every long time, saying he supported his emergence as the governor in the 2023 elections.

“Rt Hon. Ude Ọkọ Chukwu has been my friend and my brother, even when we were in different camps. He is one official of government that will give you your dues and your respect, even as a deputy governor. In those days, there is no way he will see me and will not recognize me properly. And I remember he will always introduce me as his friend and his older brother.”

The number one citizen of the state appreciated Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu for being who he is.

He recalled the events of the build up to the election and the elections of 2023, how Ude Ọkọ Chukwu supported him as a labour party candidate even while the former deputy governor was in the PDP.

He said the 2023 election was not about parties rather it was about individuals who would lead and work for the state.

“I want to use this opportunity to also tell us that 2023 was very different. 2023 was not an election of political parties. It was an election of individuals. And I stand to say here today, that throughout the campaign and the election in 2023, Rt. Hon. Ude Ọkọ Chukwu supported us whole heartedly. One of the times when we had a discussion, he told me that he had looked at everybody on the ballot, and that we’ve gone past political parties, and for this election that he would support Alex Otti.”

“And when I asked him why, he said we have no basis for comparison between you and the others, and I know you will work for our people.”

He once again thanked Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu for joining the Labour Party.

Contributing, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Engnr Ikechukwu Emetu congratulated Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu for his decision to join the party.

He emphasized that the ‘Abia Arise’ Pro-group is the foundation political support group of the governor urging every other support group to collapse into Abia Arise.

According to him, the essence is to avoid varied interests during the campaigns for the 2027 elections. He enjoined everyone to work together as one family to ensure victory for the governor and the party, come 2027.

In his speech, Rt. Hon. Ude Ọkọ Chukwu appreciated the governor for coming to receive him into the party despite his tight schedule. According to him, for the governor to decide to come with his deputy, and other government functionaries to receive himeant a lot to him.

“Your presence here today, I don’t take it for granted. It is not just an easy thing for somebody to leave a party and join another party, and the number one citizen, not just coming alone but decided to come with his deputy and also the functionaries of government to receive an individual. I want to thank you.”

Hon. Ọkọ Chukwu, who is a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly pledged to reciprocate the kind gesture of the governor.

“And I tell you, in due course, and indeed with effect from today, we will begin to reciprocate.”

Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu used the medium to hand over his political support group, Abia Vision Rangers (AVR), to the Labour Party.

“Your Excellency, you will see white flags up, everywhere. These are the Abia Vision Rangers, I seek your indulgence to give one minute to the Director General of this wonderful Pro-group, which today he is going to hand over to you and indeed your great party.”

The former deputy governor announced that the entire Nkporo community has joined the Labour Party which was attested to by the President General and the Secretary General of the Nkporo Development Union. He then announced that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State has closed shop.

Earlier in his speech, the State Chairman of the party, Sir Emmanuel Otti who was visibly elated extolled the former deputy governor for making the choice to join the Labour Party which he described as an “unstoppable moving train”.

“His Excellency, Sir Ude Ọkọ Chukwu has seen the reason for us to celebrate what our indomitable governor is doing and to join the moving train, a train that nobody can stop, no matter how hard you try.”

He opined that the emergence of Dr Alex Otti as the governor of Abia State was a handiwork of God which according to him came at this time to right the wrongs of the past administration led by the PDP in the state.

“We are not surprised and I continue to tell people that I thank God that this thing came in 2023 and it is an act of God.”

“God wanted people to mess up everywhere before the emergence of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti to right the wrongs. All the things they have done in Abia State. All the ill. Everywhere was stinking. But today, everywhere is clean.”

Sir Emmanuel Otti went on to enumerate the good works of the governor ranging from sanitation to education among others.

The high point of the event was the handing of the Labour Party flag to the newest entrant to the party, Rt. Hon. Ude Ọkọ Chukwu by Governor Alex Otti.

The former deputy governor went round the field to greet the mammoth crowd that came to witness his official entry into the Labour Party.