The Labour Party has lost all local government seats in the Abia State council election held on Saturday.
Despite being in power at the state level, the Labour Party faced defeat as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) won 15 out of the 17 Local Government Areas, while the Young Peoples Party (YPP) claimed the remaining two.
The results were announced by Prof. George Chima, Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia.
Chima stated, “We have fulfilled the duty we were inaugurated on September 5 to carry out. It wasn’t an easy task, but we went above and beyond to raise awareness about the election across the state.”
He emphasized the importance of the election, noting, “This commission has not conducted an election with over 12 political parties participating in recent times. This is a milestone for us.” He confirmed that the election was successfully held across all 17 LGAs, describing it as “free, fair, and credible.” Chima highlighted the efficiency of the commission, completing a task that typically takes six to twelve months in just two months.
He congratulated both the winners and the opposition, stressing the importance of maintaining peace in Abia. “In any election, there are winners and losers, but the most crucial thing is to keep Abia peaceful. I encourage everyone to uphold this peace.”
Chima also thanked security agencies for their support and praised political parties for adhering to the rules during the election.
