By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Okpuala Ngwa (Abia)
Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, Chief Reagan Ufomba, has formally joined the Labour Party (LP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ufomba, who contested the governorship position on the platform of APGA in 2011, was received into LP alongside members of the Change Abia Organisation and his supporters.
Speaking during the reception on Tuesday in Okpuala Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Ufomba described the occasion as a defining moment in his political journey.
He said that his decision was informed by the visible achievements of the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration and his conviction that the state was moving in the right direction.
Ufomba said that the event was not merely about joining a political party but about supporting leadership that had delivered measurable results for the people.
He declared support for the governor, his administration and his re-election bid in 2027.
According to him, Otti had restored confidence in governance through infrastructure development, environmental reforms and prudent management of public resources.
“When Governor Otti assumed office, many doubted that the decay and stagnation that had held the state captive for decades could be reversed within a short period.
“Today, those doubts have been buried beneath visible projects, measurable progress and renewed hope,” he said.
Ufomba cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abariba-Ohafia Road, Umuahia-Imo River Road, Umuikaa-Owerrinta Road and several other road projects as evidence of the administration’s performance.
He also commended ongoing work on drainage infrastructure, environmental sanitation, urban renewal projects and the proposed Abia Airport.
The former APGA governorship candidate said that his decision to join the Labour Party was based on principle rather than political convenience.
“It is based on the belief that when a leader is performing, men and women of goodwill must rally around him for the greater good of the people.
“Politics should be about service, development and the advancement of the people,” he said.
Ufomba recalled that he had previously urged Abians not to “change a winning team” in the 2027 governorship election.
He maintained that Otti had earned the support of the people through his performance in office.
He described the governor as a leader who had demonstrated courage, competence and commitment to the development of the state.
Ufomba said that the Change Abia Organisation, which comprises 197 affiliate groups, would continue to support initiatives aimed at promoting good governance and sustainable development in Abia.
He urged Abians to unite across political, religious and economic divides and support programmes that would advance the state’s growth and prosperity.
Responding, Otti welcomed Ufomba and his supporters into the Labour Party and assured them of equal rights and privileges within the party.
The governor described their decision to join the party as a positive development and pledged to continue implementing policies and projects that would improve the welfare of the people.
He thanked Ufomba for his support and commitment to the development of the state.
The Lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, Chief Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu, has said that the influx of new members into the Labour Party is an indication of the performance of the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
Iheonunekwu commended the present administration and urged continued support for the state government, noting that sustained backing would help deepen ongoing development efforts in Abia State.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Labour Party, Dr. Peter Azubuike, said the party’s leadership and members were delighted to receive Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba and his supporters into the Labour Party.
He described their decision to join the party as a welcome development, noting that it further strengthens the party’s growing base in the state.
In their goodwill messages, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Caleb Ajagba, and the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chief Mathew Ekwuribe, said that the governor had, within three years in office, transformed the landscape of Abia.
They noted that Otti’s performance had earned him widespread support across the state, with many people expressing approval of his administration’s developmental strides.
