The Executive Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government council, Hon. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani, PhD, FCA, FCIB, has endorsed the proposed Abia Central Zonal Youth Rally of the Labour Party, expressing strong support for the mobilisation of young people and the party’s electoral ambitions ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Nwaubani gave the endorsement when the Abia Central Labour Party Youth Wing, led by its Zonal Youth Leader, Comrade Ezebiro Eze Chijioke, paid him a courtesy visit in Ikwuano as part of efforts to engage political stakeholders, solicit support and strengthen youth participation in the party’s activities across the zone.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Mayor and the good people of Ikwuano, the Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Hon. Tony Echefu, introduced members of the Mayor’s team, including Hon. Kingsley Egeonu, Personal Assistant to the Mayor on Political Matters and Protocol, and Mr Remy Ajaka, Personal Assistant on Special Duties. He subsequently introduced the Mayor, who warmly received the visiting youth delegate, presented kolanut and offered prayers to mark the gathering.
Earlier, one of the delegates, Okechukwu Matthew, had apologised for the group’s late arrival, assuring the Mayor that keeping their leader waiting was not consistent with their character. He also introduced the members of the delegation, including Mr Kelechi, Chairman of the Abia Central Youth Rally Planning Committee; Miss Nnaji Chetachi; Comrade Ugbo Gideon Uchechi; Chichi Hermison; Oluchi Ejim; Ebere Chinedu; and Hon. Isabella Chiamaka Juliet Chibunna, Women Leader of the Home Base Movement.
Speaking during the visit, Comrade Ezebiro Eze Chijioke explained that the delegation’s visit was part of an assignment given to the three senatorial zones of Abia State by Governor Alex Chioma Otti to organise, plan and execute zonal youth rallies. He disclosed that the Governor, who hails from Abia Central, had indicated his intention to personally lead the rally in the zone, making stakeholder engagement and grassroots mobilisation essential to the success of the event. According to him, the visit to Ikwuano was the first of its kind by the group in pursuit of the assignment and was intended to formally invite the Mayor to the rally, seek his support and secure his commitment to youth-oriented political mobilisation.
The zonal youth leader further disclosed that the proposed rally would hold in Umuahia, within the federal constituency, and was expected to attract between 10,000 and 20,000 youths. He explained that the planning committee was working towards providing 30 buses per local government area to facilitate the transportation of participants from different communities, with three buses allocated to each ward and additional arrangements to accommodate areas with higher participation. He appealed to the Mayor and other political stakeholders to support the mobilisation exercise financially and logistically, noting that participants would also receive light refreshments. He added that the rally would feature branded T-shirts, caps, flyers and banners to promote visibility and participation.
Beyond the rally itself, Comrade Chijioke emphasised the need for sustained commitment to youth inclusion in the Labour Party’s political structure. He announced plans to inaugurate 10 youths per polling unit across the 62 wards in Abia Central, explaining that the initiative was intended to strengthen grassroots participation and prepare young people to protect the votes cast for Governor Otti and other Labour Party candidates during elections. He subsequently invited the chairman of the planning committee to present the rally materials to the Mayor for endorsement.
Presenting the materials, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Kelechi, explained that his principal assignment was to formally present the proposed rally materials, including a T-shirt, face cap and flyer, to the Mayor and seek his official endorsement of the programme. The presentation formed part of the committee’s wider consultations with political leaders and stakeholders whose support is considered vital to the successful execution of the rally.
In response, Mayor Nwaubani warmly welcomed the initiative and endorsed the proposed rally without reservation, describing it as a noble exercise worthy of support. He declared that he would not oppose a programme aimed at strengthening the party and advancing its political objectives, stressing that the collective target was to secure victories for the party’s candidates across the relevant electoral contests. Reaffirming his commitment, the Mayor said the rally deserved the full backing of party stakeholders and expressed confidence in the party’s capacity to consolidate its electoral support.
Nwaubani also reiterated his determination to work towards the re-election of Gov Alex Chioma Otti and the success of other Labour Party candidates, specifically mentioning Senator Darlington Nwokocha (Darloo); Rt Hon Ginger Onwusibe; Rt. Hon. Obi Aguocha; and Hon. Isienyi. He stressed that the mobilisation effort was driven by a common objective of securing victories for the party’s candidates, concluding with an emphatic declaration of his full endorsement of the rally. His response highlighted the importance of collaboration between political leaders and youth structures in strengthening grassroots mobilisation and advancing the Labour Party’s electoral aspirations in Abia State.