A member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Lewis Obianyi, has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Labour Party (LP), a move that coincided with new assurances from Governor Alex Otti on infrastructure delivery in Ukwa East Local Government Area.

Obianyi, who represents Ukwa East State Constituency, formally presented himself to the governor on Saturday alongside political stakeholders from the area, marking the culmination of discussions that began several months ago. He said he had informed Otti of his intention to defect as far back as September last year and described the visit as the fulfilment of that understanding ahead of a formal reception in the constituency.

Explaining his decision, the lawmaker said developments under the current administration influenced his move. “People are seeing tangible developments. They are no longer seeing audio infrastructure. What they are now seeing are infrastructures that can stand the test of time,” he said.

Obianyi added that the governor’s policies had created a foundation for continuity beyond his tenure. “As of today, Your Excellency, you have laid a foundation that after 2031, whoever takes over from you will find it easier to take Ndi Abia to the next level. That is why I have come to follow you. We are not looking for a party to belong to; what we are looking for is good governance, and today you have provided leadership for us.”

Those who defected alongside him include Paul Taribo, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly; Chief Bright Benson, a former House of Representatives candidate of the Young Progressives Party; Lady Chinedu Brown, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs; and other figures drawn from different opposition platforms in the area.

Receiving the delegation, Otti welcomed Obianyi and the other decampees, saying their decision reflected a shared focus on the state rather than partisan divisions. “The most important thing is that we belong to one political party called Abia State, and everything we do is to promote the welfare and happiness of our people,” the governor said.

During the meeting, Otti announced that the general hospital approved for Ukwa East would be delivered within the year. He explained that the project had been delayed after the initial site was found to be unsuitable, but that the challenge had been resolved following the donation of an alternative parcel of land by an indigene of the area. “To the glory of God, an Ndoki son donated a large parcel of land, which was handed over to the contractor on Friday. I have given the contractor until the end of the year to deliver a state-of-the-art general hospital for our people,” he said.

According to the governor, construction is expected to commence immediately, with the possibility that the project will be officially flagged off during his visit to Ukwa East for the formal reception of the new Labour Party members.

Otti also acknowledged the gift of Akwete cloth presented by the delegation, noting that his administration, through the First Lady, had been promoting the fabric on international platforms, including at the United Nations General Assembly. He said the government would continue to support efforts to commercialise Akwete cloth to make it more accessible.

Earlier, the Mayor of Ukwa East Local Government Area, Chibunna Akara, said the delegation was made up of stakeholders from various opposition parties who had agreed to align with the Labour Party. He added that they were awaiting the governor’s approval for a date to formally receive them in the local government area.

Other members of the delegation included Hon. Hyacinte Iheanacho, coordinator of PDP ward chairmen in Ukwa East; Prof. Kamalu of the University of Port Harcourt; Barrister Ben Ogbonna, a retired Superintendent of Police; Mrs Esther Bright, Women Traders in Politics coordinator; Chief Theresa Aja, PDP woman leader in Ukwa East; Elder Israel Bethel, former Special Adviser on Agriculture; and Dr Felix Idah Waboso, Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress, Ndoki clan.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, was also present during the visit.