The deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party in Abia, Ifeoma Okoya-Thomas, says she has dumped the ADP for the Labour Party.

Ms Okoya-Thomas disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Umuahia on Wednesday.

“I have chosen, at this time, to declare for the Labour Party and the person of Otti because we have the same vision to change the narrative of Abia. I discovered we have a similar vision, which is to propagate the cause of Abia,” Ms Okoya-Thomas. “I had the vision, and I want to be part of the mission to liberate the state and its people and also fix its infrastructure.”

She explained that the mission “is, for once, let people experience and get the dividend of democracy and become partakers in what belongs to Abia, not what we have gone through in the last couple of years.”

Ms Okoya-Thomas said Abia people had suffered in all spheres because the state had been in the hands of incompetent leaders, stressing that the Abia people are unhappy. 

“Our state seems to be the most backward country. Things are really bad for our people, and they want a change. I know that with Otti at the helm of affairs, Abia will have that positive change,” stated Ms Okoya-Thomas.

She said that she had always had high regard for Alex Otti (Labour Party’s governorship flag bearer), even though they had not met before, because she considered him a technocrat rather than a politician.

The former ADP deputy governorship candidate said she decided to support Mr Otti because he demonstrated the capacity and competence to transform Abia.

She said she was joining LP along with her political structure and teeming supporters in different parts of the state.

(NAN)