The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abia State has collapsed its structures and consequently declared support for the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the State, Dr. Alex Otti.
At a formal declaration on Wednesday at Otti’s campaign office in Aba, the SDP, led by its State Chairman, Chuks Gold Abangowe and Deputy Governorship candidate, Dickson Asonye, said the party will henceforth work to enthrone Otti as governor of Abia State.
The SDP leadership, which came with all the State Working Committee (SWC) and executive members of the party from across the 17 local government areas of Abia, numbering over 100, said the party was collapsing its structures to LP based on conviction.
“I’m saying here, the incoming Governor of Abia State is here, he has not given me one Naira, he has not given anybody in the party one Naira.
“Let it be on record, we’re doing what we’re doing based on conviction not persuasion. We know that with Dr. Alex Otti, Abia state shall be salvaged,” Abangowe said.
Also, speaking, the SDP now former Deputy Governorship candidate, Asonye, extolled the leadership capacity of Dr. Otti, declaring the LP governorship candidate as the man Abia needs to move forward.
“I will say today is the day we are officially handing over the SDP in Abia State to Dr. Alex Otti, the incoming Governor of Abia State.
“In him, I see capacity, I see confidence, I see capability, I see courage… That is what we need to salvage Abia State,”
Asonye affirmed.
Receiving the leadership and membership of the SDP in Abia, Otti, who is the leading candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election, thanked the LP new members for their decision, promising they will be fully integrated.
He described the new entrants as equal to existing LP members as everybody is “equal joiner.” To march his word with action, he immediately coopted them into the campaign council of the Labour Party in Abia.
“I want to thank you for this show of confidence, solidarity and love for Abia State.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, some of you may not understand the full import of what happened here a few minutes ago. What it means is that the SDP is no longer in the race for governorship in Abia State.
“The governorship ticket of SDP is a joint ticket between my brother, Dickson Asonye, and the governorship candidate. Given that the Deputy Governorship candidate has given up and joined Labour Party, the governorship candidate ceases to be a candidate. That is the state of the law,” Otti announced to the enlarged LP family.
On hand to welcome the new LP members alongside Dr. Otti, were his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti; the LP executives in the state, the various party candidates in Abia and members of the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation, led by Hon Iheanacho Obioma.
