LG Elections: Vote candidates aligned with our development agenda, says Otti

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has called on the people of the state to vote for candidates that support the present administration’s development agenda ahead of Nov. 2 Local Government elections.

Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of the Aba South Local Government Area (LGA) Administrative Office Complex in Aba, Otti urged members of the public to participate actively during the election.

It was reported that the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) will conduct elections for Chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 17 LGAs and 184 wards in the state on Nov 2.

The governor said that effective administration at the local government level remained very important for the actualisation of the administration’s holistic development agenda.

“I will therefore invite you to participate actively in the process by asking questions of the candidates and supporting those who share in our development agenda.

“We know our people and I am sure none of us will be in doubt when you go to the polling centres as to who the right candidates for the relevant positions are.

“Like I have always known, Abia people go for the right candidate in spite of the platform.

“We must continue to seek out the right people,” he said.

He said that voting credible individuals into power would give significant boost to the rebuilding agenda of the present administration evident in every part of the state.

The governor urged the people of Abia to collectively resolve not to vote individuals who were only interested in the privileges of political offices.

Otti said that the state government would give ABSIEC adequate support to conduct a hitch-free Local Government election on Nov. 2.

He also urged the people of Abia to disregard rumours making the rounds that the members of Labour Party had dumped the party.

“We remain members of Labour Party and we acknowledge there are challenges and problems in Labour but we remain members of Labour Party,” Otti said.

He described the rehabilitation of the administrative office of the Aba South LGA as a welcome development.

Otti said: “1, 464 days ago, this very building was looted and torched by angry protesters in the wake of the civil disturbances that attended the October 2020 #ENDSARS demonstrations.”

In his speech, the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa, described the event as a celebration of competence and accountability of the present leadership of the LGA.

Emeruwa called on the people of Abia to disregard the rumours making the rounds about the state government and added that the present administration remained a Labour Party-led administration.

He urged the people of Abia to keep supporting the State Government and Labour Party.

In his address, the Transition Committee Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area, Chief Uche Wogu, thanked the State Government for the support which made the rehabilitation of the office complex a reality.

Wogu said that the need to build the economy of the state at the local government levels was paramount in the achievement of socioeconomic development in Abia.

He said that as the state transitioned to electing the leadership of the various LGAs, there should be conscious efforts to refrain from overly relying on federal allocation and boosting internally generated revenue.

In a remark, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr Goodluck Ubochi, described the occasion as a celebration of the implementation of the principle of transparency, accountability and good governance.

Ubochi called on the people of the state to remain law abiding and supportive to the rebuilding agenda of the present administration.

In an interview with newsmen, the President of Aba Sports Club, Chief Chris Agbo, commended the government for its sustained efforts towards developing the state.

Agbo also commended the Transition Committee Chairman of Aba South LGA for the transformation he carried out in the council headquarters.

The event also featured the inauguration of the first phase of the rebuilt Abia State Emergency System.