By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State on Tuesday held a state stakeholders’ meeting at Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area, bringing together ward chairmen and secretaries from across the state to review developments within the party and outline plans ahead of upcoming congresses and elections.
The meeting, which had representatives from the party’s 171 wards in attendance, featured briefings from party leaders on national and state-level issues, internal organisation, and preparations for future political contests.
Speaking at the event, the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Comrade Splendor Oko Eze, said the meeting was convened to update members across the 13 local government areas on ongoing developments within the party and to reassure them of the party’s stability nationwide.
According to him, the Labour Party is preparing for ward, local government and state congresses that will culminate in a national convention, noting that similar activities are taking place across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Politics is grassroots-based, and that is why we have come to speak directly to our people,” Eze said, adding that the party remains active and organised in Ebonyi State despite claims by critics that opposition politics in the state is weak.
He maintained that the Labour Party is positioning itself to replicate its performance in the 2023 general elections during the 2027 polls, while emphasising the role of the media in keeping the public informed of the party’s activities.
Clarifying issues surrounding the Obedient Movement, Eze said the movement cuts across political parties and is not restricted to the Labour Party alone. He explained that support for former presidential candidate Peter Obi in 2023 came from members of different political parties, driven largely by shared expectations of good governance.
“Obedient members are across board. What unites them is the desire for good governance, not just party affiliation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Henry Udeh , described the party as deeply rooted in the state and dismissed claims that it was being collapsed into another political platform. He clarified that while the party supports coalition-building, it has no intention of dissolving its structure into any other party.
On preparations for the forthcoming local government elections, Udeh said the party was still deliberating due to pending legal issues at the national level. He, however, assured members that the party would adopt a more inclusive approach to the sale of nomination forms, stressing that candidates would be selected based on credibility rather than financial strength.
“Our forms will not be daylight robbery. We want the right people to emerge, not just those with money,” he said.
The State Secretary of the party, Comrade Igiri Innocent, described the gathering as a routine stakeholders’ meeting aimed at briefing party officials on recent developments from the national to the state level.
Reacting to reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is selling local government chairmanship forms for N30 million, Innocent criticised the alleged fee, describing it as excessive and exclusionary. He argued that such costs could prevent capable but less wealthy individuals from participating in governance. The APC has not responded to the allegation.
Addressing concerns about turnout from some local government areas, party leaders said attendance was limited to officially invited ward chairmen and secretaries, noting that broader party membership remains active across the state.
The meeting also witnessed the admission of 10 new members drawn from different local government areas, a development party officials described as evidence of continued growth.
The Labour Party leadership concluded by urging members and supporters to remain committed to the party’s ideals and to continue advocating for good governance, accountability and inclusive leadership in Ebonyi State and beyond.