A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Mandela Obasi, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling Labour Party, citing Governor Alex Otti’s development strides and internal crises within the PDP.
A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Mandela Obasi, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Abia State.
Obasi, who represents Ohafia North State Constituency, announced his defection during an interactive session with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The lawmaker said he decided to join the Labour Party to fully identify with the governor and support the administration’s development programmes across the state.
“I officially came here to identify myself with the governor and to join him properly in the Labour Party because of the good work he is doing in the state,” Obasi said.
According to him, the governor’s projects are visible across the state and have made it easier for politicians to engage meaningfully with their constituents.
He noted that residents in his constituency often point to newly constructed roads and other infrastructure executed by the state government.
Obasi also said the development efforts of the state government were not limited to major urban centres but extended to rural communities.
He cited his hometown, Abiriba, as one of the areas benefiting from ongoing projects implemented by the state government.
According to him, such visible achievements make it easier for elected representatives to secure the trust and mandate of the people.
The lawmaker attributed part of his decision to leave the PDP to internal conflicts within the party.
“I am leaving the PDP because we no longer have a leader. Some members of the party are already aligning with other parties,” he said.
Obasi added that he had remained patient for a long time but eventually concluded that the party was declining and lacked a clear leadership direction.
He expressed confidence that his supporters and political associates in Ohafia North would eventually join him in the Labour Party.
According to him, his political structure remains strong at the grassroots level.
“We are on ground at the grassroots and when we move into the Labour Party, people will see the difference,” he said.
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