In a first setback after its 2023 victory, the Labour Party (LP) lost the 17 council seats in Abia State in the November 2, local government election. LP is the ruling party in Abia State.

Relatively known Young Progressives Party (YPP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Abia State won two and 15 seats respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Cross River State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has so far won eight local government council elections as results trickled in. The council election in Cross River was also held on November 2.

Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, George Chima, announced the outcome of the elections, yesterday, at the commission’s headquarters in the  capital, Umuahia.

The YPP won Osisioma and Ugwunagbo, while the ZLP took Arochukwu, Ohafia, Bende, Umunneochi, Isuikwuato, Umuahia North, and Ikwuanno.

Others are Umuahia South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Aba North, Aba South, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West.

LEADERSHIP reports that while flagging off the ZLP campaign for the election in Aba, penultimate week, the state chairman, Chris Onukwue had said the party would win the election.

He charged both the ZLP candidates and the leaders to take the campaign to every nook and cranny of the state to ensure total victory.

At another event on the same day in the city, the governor, Alex Otti called on the electorate to vote for candidates who share his vision and agenda for the state irrespective of their party.

He explained: “What Abians should be concerned about is those who will replicate my developmental blue print at the grassroots level.”

In Cross River, APC in eight local government councils  so far announced by chairman for the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) Dr. Ekong Boco.

Breakdown of local government councils won by  APC include,  Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabio, Bakassi, Bekwarra, Etung, Obudu  and Odukpani.

Boco, who read the results before journalists at the headquarters of CROSIElC in Càlabar, blamed difficult terrain, long distance to the state capital and bad roads as being responsible for the late announcement of results from other local governments.

In a brief interview with chairman-elect of Bakassi local government council, Effiong Okon, he pledged to prioritise the resettlement of his people in line with the Green Tree Agreement of 2006.