By Prince Ejeh Josh
…We’ll give you votes that’ll impress you – traditional rulers, LP supporters
The Labour Party (LP) has suffered a heavy setback as thousands of its chieftains, stakeholders and diehard supporters in Enugu North Senatorial Zone also known as Nsukka zone have abandoned the party, collapsing their structure for the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah.
The fatal political blow was delivered on the party on Thursday in Unadu community, Igboeze South local government, touted as the pillar and beehive of the LP, when leaders and executive members of the party in the zone converged on the palace of Igwe Okechukwu Agbayi of Unadu Autonomous Community to declare their support for Dr. Mbah, stressing that he was the only prepared candidate with the competence, commitment and interest of the state to deliver good governance to the people.
Members of the party who came out en masse to welcome Dr. Mbah and his entourage who were on their way to a town hall meeting in the zone, were seen in colourful uniforms, pouring encomiums on the PDP and promising to deliver all the candidates vying for elective offices under the party in the February and March 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the occasion, chieftains of the LP stated that they had already gone to the drawing board, retraced their steps and came to conclusion that Dr. Mbah’s candidacy is not only for the interest and development of the state but also for them as a people in Nsukka zone.
They further pledged to mobilize massive voters across the six local government areas in the zone because of their conviction in Mbah’s track record in the past.
Meanwhile, traditional ruler of Unadu kingdom, Igwe Okechukwu Agbayi who led other traditional rulers in the area reaffirmed that his people had already resolved to give all the PDP candidates their votes, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had done well in terms of security, infrastructure and social services.
He stressed that his family and his kingdom would continue to have sympathy for the PDP because of the dividends of democracy they’ve been enjoying over the past years.
The revered traditional ruler, whose palace was crowded by LP supporters, told his guests that he had already converted over 90% staunch supporters of LP in Nsukka zone to the PDP because of the excellent programmes the Mbah’s candidature had presented to his people.
“I have collapsed 90% of Labour Party to the PDP in Nsukka. Thousands of people have been converted to the PDP courtesy of me,” the royal father stressed.
He, however, appealed to the governorship flagbearer to remember the zone in terms of new infrastructure such as road construction, quality healthcare service delivery, security and expansion of their market base for Industrialisation and revenue generation.
On his part, Engr. Obinna Okechukwu who donated some campaign materials, said he was driven by the unmatched pedigree and unquestionable leadership integrity of Dr. Mbah in the private sector and would want him to replicate the same development and transformation in the public sector when he wins.
Engr. Obinna, while urging the Nsukka zone to queue behind the PDP gubernatorial frontrunner, insisted that voting for Dr. Mbah would guarantee the future of their children and ensure economic prosperity for the state.
Responding to the massive endorsement by the traditional rulers and newly converted PDP members, Dr. Mbah said the development was worthy of the project which would see to a new dawn in the state.
While noting that the people had already taken ownership of the collective project, Dr. Mbah assured that his administration would be driven by the desire to improve on the general welfare of the people, engage the youths in wealth creation, and partner with competent hands that would make the people proud of the state.
He further promised to address infrastructural deficits through his integrated development programmes, expand the resource base of the state, and run inclusive governance that will make every community the epicenter of his development trajectory.
While extending the hand of fellowship to the Labour Party members, the renowned investor preached forgiveness among their ranks, assuring them that he would integrate them into the mainstream of his campaign without anyone discriminating against them.
