Storytimes Newspapers

  In a significant boost to the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State, a former member of the Abia State House of Assembly and more than 200 of his supporters have defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Chief Paul Taribo, who formerly represented Ukwa East State Constituency in the state assembly, alongside Mrs. Theresa Oxford Nwabara and their followers (numbering over 100 in the initial group, with reports indicating the total exceeding 200), formally joined the Labour Party during an event at Ikwueke East Ward. Taribo, previously a prominent APC chieftain in the state, announced the defection, attributing his decision to the visible achievements of Governor Alex Otti's administration. He expressed his commitment to supporting Otti's re-election bid in 2027 and contributing to the ongoing development in Abia State. The defection comes amid a series of political movements in the state, where the Labour Party has been consolidating support since Otti's victory in 2023...

  Abia State is bracing for a high-stakes political showdown as the 2027 governorship election approaches. What began as verbal jabs between former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and incumbent Governor Alex Otti has snowballed into a full-scale confrontation, pitting a formidable coalition of ex-governors and their allies against Otti and his supporters. The battle is increasingly described as one for the very soul of Abia—pitting the "old guard" desperate to reclaim influence against a governor backed by widespread public support for his reform agenda. The spark ignited when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), a former governor (1999–2007), publicly declared that Otti's backing was unnecessary for President Bola Tinubu to win Abia in 2027. Kalu has repeatedly claimed Otti is merely "repainting" projects from his own era and vowed Otti would be a one-term governor. This escalated when Kalu, alongside former Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji (2007–2015) and ex-Gove...

  The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Abia State has strongly condemned what it describes as a coordinated effort by former governors of the state to undermine Governor Alex Otti, attributing their actions to deep-seated envy over his administration's visible achievements. Local Government Chairmen, under the leadership of ALGON Chairman Chinedum Ekeke, made the accusation during a press conference in Umuahia on Friday. They berated the trio of former governors—Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu—for allegedly ganging up against the incumbent, claiming their opposition stems from intimidation by Otti's "laudable achievements" in infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and overall governance renewal. The statement comes amid escalating political tensions in Abia State, including reports of the ex-governors' recent meetings where they reportedly resolved to oppose Otti's re-election bid in 2027 and even threatened legal ac...