ZLP secured 15 local government chairmanships, while YPP took two. The ruling Labour Party did not win any chairmanship positions in the polls.
Umuahia, Nigeria – The Labour Party (LP) led by Governor Alex Otti faced a significant defeat in Abia State’s local government elections on Saturday, as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) claimed the majority of seats.
ZLP secured 15 local government chairmanships, while YPP took two. The ruling LP did not win any chairmanship positions in the polls.
The Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Professor George Chima, announced the results and congratulated both the winners and the defeated candidates, urging all parties to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.
He commended the security agencies and other stakeholders for their role in maintaining order during the election process, highlighting the importance of peace in the state.
However, logistical challenges and delays marred the election. The ABSIEC’s late distribution of electoral materials and delayed arrival of officials led to a rocky start at many polling units.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), materials were not delivered to polling units until after 11:00 a.m., despite the commission’s initial schedule to begin distribution by 7:00 a.m. with accreditation and voting planned to start by 8:00 a.m.
In several local government areas, including Umuahia South, Osisioma, Aba North, and Aba South, NAN reporters observed that polling stations were either completely empty or lacked necessary materials and personnel, disappointing many voters who had come early to cast their votes.
The turnout was notably low across various polling units. In many locations, few voters gathered, waiting for materials to arrive and for voting to commence. By midday, polling units such as Avonipupe Primary School (Units 009, 015), Ipupe Village Hall (Unit 008), and Ogbo Central School (Units 011, 012), as well as Umuosu Community School (Units 007, 013, 017) were still without election officials or security presence.
Some residents expressed frustration over the delayed voting process. Mrs. Joy Eze, a hairdresser in Ubakala, said she had checked in repeatedly to monitor her polling unit’s status but returned to her business due to the prolonged delay. Mrs. Onyinyechi Ishmael, another resident, shared her apathy toward the elections, stating that past experiences led her to doubt the significance of her vote.
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