Abia PDP Lawmaker Dumps Party for Labour Party

In a significant political realignment, Hon. Lewis Obianyi, the member representing Ukwa East State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party (LP). The lawmaker, who led a high-powered delegation of political heavyweights from the Ndoki axis to the Government House in Umuahia on Saturday, January 24, 2026, cited Governor Alex Otti’s “tangible and verifiable” governance as the primary catalyst for his decision.

Obianyi’s move is the culmination of a political shift that began in late 2025. Although he had officially notified the House of Assembly of his intent in December, his Saturday visit to Governor Otti served as a formal presentation of himself and a broad coalition of stakeholders. The defector expressed that he was no longer interested in “audio infrastructure” but was drawn to the Governor’s ability to deliver projects that “can stand the test of time.” He asserted that Otti has laid a developmental foundation so solid that whoever succeeds him in 2031 will find a clear path to progress.

The defection has significantly thinned the ranks of the opposition in Ukwa East. Joining Obianyi in the switch were several influential figures, including Hon. Paul Taribo, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the 7th Assembly; Chief Bright Benson, a former House of Representatives candidate for the Young Progressives Party (YPP); and Lady Chinedu Brown, a two-time former Commissioner for Women Affairs. The delegation also featured PDP ward chairmen, academic figures like Professor Kamalu of the University of Port Harcourt, and retired security officials, all signaling a unified pivot toward the ruling party.

Governor Alex Otti, receiving the new members at his country home in Nvosi, welcomed them into what he termed “the one political party called Abia State.” He emphasized that his administration’s focus remains squarely on the welfare of the people rather than partisan bickering. Otti used the occasion to announce that the long-awaited General Hospital for Ukwa East would finally be delivered by the end of 2026. He explained that the project had faced delays due to an unsuitable initial site, but a new, larger parcel of land was recently donated by an indigene of Ndoki land, allowing contractors to commence work immediately.

A notable highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the iconic Akwete cloth to the Governor by the Ukwa East delegation. Otti seized the moment to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to globalizing the traditional fabric. He revealed that his wife, Priscilla Otti, has already showcased the textile at the United Nations General Assembly, and he pledged to support the Ndoki people in commercializing the production to make the fabric more affordable and accessible worldwide.

The Mayor of Ukwa East, Chibunna Akara, who introduced the decampees, noted that the influx of leaders from the PDP, YPP, and APC into the Labour Party is a testament to the “Otti effect” currently sweeping through the state. He confirmed that a massive formal reception would soon be organized in the local government area to officially integrate the thousands of supporters expected to follow the defecting leaders.

As the 2027 election cycle begins to appear on the political horizon, observers believe Obianyi’s defection further consolidates Governor Otti’s influence in the southern senatorial district. For the PDP, the loss of its only representative from Ukwa East and several key grassroots coordinators represents a deepening crisis of relevance in a state where the Labour Party continues to expand its legislative and executive footprint through aggressive infrastructural development.