The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has leveled serious allegations against some of its candidates in the 2023 general elections, including the current Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of bypassing official procedures in the acquisition and distribution of nomination forms.
Following a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held in Aba on Wednesday, the Acting State Chairman, Prince G.O. Ndubueze, alongside other top party officials, addressed the press on what they described as significant breaches of internal processes.
Ndubueze alleged that during the build-up to the 2023 elections, Dr. Otti then the Labour Party governorship candidate was handed control of all nomination forms for Abia State.
According to him, this transfer of authority was executed without appropriate remittance to either the national or state party secretariats.
He further claimed that this irregular arrangement resulted in substantial financial losses to the party, with several millions of naira allegedly unaccounted for.
Echoing the chairman’s concerns, the Labour Party State Youth Leader, Hon. Udo Kingsley Ihediwa, accused Governor Otti of sidelining the State Working Committee throughout the primaries.
“Governor Otti only paid ₦15 million out of the ₦25 million required for his own nomination,” Ihediwa claimed. “Worse still, he personally took over the distribution and collection of payment for forms meant for other aspirants from the Senate down to the State Assembly thereby denying the party its rightful dues.”
Party officials insist that the matter is not just about money, but about preserving the integrity of the party’s internal democratic processes.
They have called on the national leadership of the Labour Party to investigate the claims and ensure accountability.
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