Tension has eased among Abia State’s incumbent local government chairmen and ward councillors as the Labour Party debunked reports claiming their disqualification from the November 2 local government election.
Reports circulating on social media alleged that 17 local government chairmen, their deputies, and 184 ward councillors were barred from re-election due to failure to resign 30 days before party primary elections, citing Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2012, according to Daily Post.
Governor Alex Otti’s stakeholders’ meeting on September 29 supposedly made this decision.
However, Labour Party Chairman Emmanuel Nwaeze Oti swiftly denied these claims.
Initial unconfirmed reports sparked tension among local government chairmen who had established campaign structures for the November 2 polls.
With the Labour Party’s clarification, affected officials can continue election preparations.
The November 2 local government election will see various stakeholders vying for positions across the state.
Abia State government previously released a list of nominees for Local Government Areas Transition Council Chairmen/Mayors and their deputies, pending screening and confirmation by the state House of Assembly.
“No! I said no. What you heard is rumors. I can tell you that the news is a mere rumor,” Oti said
