NEWS
LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN HON. PETER AZUBUIKE STORMS OBINGWA, CALLS FOR UNITY AS ASPIRANT DECLARES FOR 2027 RACE
…says “I Will Remain Neutral…“
By @TheKELVINATOR, The Eyes Opener News | 2026
The newly elected Abia State Chairman of the Labour Party, Hon. Peter Chigozie Azubuike, fondly referred to as “The Rock,” has begun active grassroots engagement across the state, making a notable appearance in Obingwa Local Government Area within days of assuming office.
Hon. Azubuike attended the official declaration of Hon. Kelechi Seth Ebere, who formally declared his intention to contest for the Obingwa East State Constituency seat in the Abia State House of Assembly under the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The well-attended event, held at Abala Ibeme II in Obingwa East (Agalaba), drew a large crowd of women, community leaders, party stakeholders, and political supporters. The gathering quickly turned into a show of solidarity for the new state chairman, as attendees cheered his presence and showered him with applause and congratulatory remarks on his emergence as party leader in the state.
Addressing the congregation, Hon. Azubuike emphasized the urgent need for unity within the party as it prepares for future electoral contests.
“We need this unity to ensure… It is on that note I extend appreciation to our brother, Hon. Seth, who has gathered all of us here,” he said.
In a tone that balanced encouragement with caution, the chairman acknowledged the competitive nature of politics while urging aspirants and supporters to maintain discipline and maturity throughout the process.
“Without any form of bias, everyone know that what were into and doing here is politics and there are lot of other people who are also contesting for this same position. I’ve come here to plead with you all that there’s one promise I want to make, despite the position (as State Chairman of the Labour Party) I will do everything to be as neutral as possible, that’s one thing.
“And the second thing is whoever the ticket doesn’t favour, he or she should exercise patience. I repeat again, whoever doesn’t eventually get the party ticket, let him or her exercise patience, because in politics you should have a very strong shock absover… The most important thing is in the cause of it pray that you don’t loose your life, because no matter what you loose as a politician you need to have that strong will to… So while spending on political activities, be cautious,” he emphazised
Hon. Azubuike further stressed the importance of collective responsibility once party primaries are concluded, noting that victory can only be achieved through unity of purpose.
“Also the most important thing is that the ticket belongs to only one person. I also want to zero in here, anybody who is given the ticket should be supported by everybody, infact once the ticket is picked by anybody running for the House of Assembly, first of all, he or she would call a meeting of other aspirants who indicated interest and make sure we have a united font. If today isn’t your turn, tomorrow might be your turn,” he stated.
He cautioned against sentiment-driven politics, insisting that competence and capacity must remain the guiding principles in candidate selection.
“So I understand the sentiment of those who have gone and those who haven’t gone, but what we want is capacity and those who have what it takes to deliver.
“Because we can no longer support any form of mediocrity in the name of sentiment no matter who you are, be you my father, my son, I don’t care. For what we demand is those who have what it takes to represent the people and that’s where I’m centring it,” he said.
Reinforcing his role as a unifying figure, Azubuike highlighted the strategic importance of Obingwa in the broader political calculations of the Labour Party and the state government.
“So this (Obingwa) is our place and that’s why I am here in the capacity of the stakeholders chairman… One more thing I will say is His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti is interested in Obingwa.
“Let me tell you something if we’re not United it will show in our 2027 outing, that is why once we finish the party primaries those who emerged should carry along those who didn’t because you who emerged can not doing it alone,” he said.
He issued a stern warning against internal sabotage and political disloyalty, signaling the party’s readiness to confront actions that could undermine its chances.
“And one thing we’ll not tolerate is any form of sabotage, for any reason you didn’t get the ticket and you sabotage our effort, we’ll do everything to resist you.
“But where you succeed no matter how little we’ll keep your records for you and when the time comes we’ll open your books, because politics is a sportsmanship business.”
Azubuike concluded with a strong declaration of intent for the Labour Party in Obingwa, asserting confidence in the party’s electoral prospects while rejecting any claims of political dominance by opposing forces.
“On this note I appreciate you all. One thing is clear, anyone the Labour Party ticket for Obingwa East and Obingwa West is given to, we must win the election and that is the truth.
“And if anybody try to intimidate us saying they own the land, that’s is not true, we all own the land, we all hail from here and everyone have to understand that.
“And for those running under opposition parties in state, they should maintain boundaries, because if cross into our lane, thinking it’s only you who have monopoly of violence, we’ll teach you lessons you’ll never forget,” he affirmed.
He further said, “So we want to play politics as brothers and if you don’t want it that way, we’ll tell you that the era of intimidation from 2023 downwards has gone and we’ll tell you this is the new Obingwa in the New Abia,“ he said.
The event not only marked the formal entry of a new aspirant into the 2027 race but also served as a strong signal of the Labour Party’s early mobiliza
tion and internal consolidation efforts in Obingwa.