Governor Alex Otti of Abia has called on the people of the state to vote for candidates that support the present administration’s development agenda ahead of the November 2 local government elections.

Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of the Aba South Local Government Area (LGA) administrative office complex in Aba, Mr Otti urged residents to participate actively during the election.

The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) will conduct elections for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the 17 LGAs and 184 wards on November 2.

The governor said effective administration at the local government level remained very important for the actualisation of the administration’s holistic development agenda.

“I will therefore invite you to participate actively in the process by asking questions of the candidates and supporting those who share in our development agenda. We must continue to seek out the right people,” he said.

Mr Otti said voting credible individuals into power would significantly boost the rebuilding agenda of the present administration.

The governor said the state government would give ABSIEC adequate support to conduct a hitch-free local government election on November 2.

He also urged the people of Abia to disregard rumours making the rounds that the members of the Labour Party had dumped the party.

“We remain members of the Labour Party, and we acknowledge there are challenges and problems in Labour, but we remain members of the party,” Mr Otti said.

He described the rehabilitation of the Aba South LGA administrative office as a welcome development.

Mr Otti said: “1,464 days ago, this very building was looted and torched by angry protesters in the wake of the civil disturbances that attended the October 2020 #ENDSARS demonstrations.”

In his speech, the speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, described the event as a celebration of competence and accountability of the present leadership of the LGA.

He urged the people of Abia to keep supporting the state government and Labour Party.

In his address, the Transition Committee Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area, Uche Wogu, thanked the state government for supporting the rehabilitation of the office complex.

(NAN)