Abia Labour Party Faults APC’s Opposition Tactics, Defends Otti Administration
The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has strongly criticized the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, accusing the party of engaging in propaganda and baseless allegations rather than constructive opposition politics.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Iroegbu Emenike, the Labour Party dismissed a recent APC press release that alleged intimidation by the state government. According to the LP, the APC’s claims were an attempt to avoid accountability after being challenged to provide evidence for allegations made against the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
The party argued that asking political actors to substantiate their claims with verifiable facts should not be interpreted as intimidation or suppression of opposition voices. Rather, it maintained that accountability and evidence-based public discourse are essential pillars of democracy.
Defending Governor Alex Otti’s political history, the Labour Party noted that the governor himself emerged from years of opposition politics, during which he consistently challenged government policies and advocated alternative ideas for development. The party emphasized that Otti’s political journey was built on issue-based engagement rather than personal attacks or unverified accusations.
According to the statement, the major challenge facing the Abia APC is what it described as a misunderstanding of the role of opposition in a democratic society. The Labour Party alleged that instead of offering policy alternatives and constructive criticism, the APC has focused on spreading allegations without presenting supporting evidence.
The LP specifically referenced a previous claim by the APC that the Abia State Government allegedly spent N5 billion to destabilize the opposition party. The Labour Party described the allegation as unfounded and challenged the APC to publicly provide proof to support the accusation.
The statement further stressed that no individual or political group is exempt from accountability, regardless of whether they are in government or opposition. It argued that freedom of expression does not eliminate the responsibility to provide evidence when making serious allegations that could damage reputations.
The Labour Party maintained that effective opposition politics should be centered on facts, policy analysis, alternative solutions, and constructive engagement. According to the party, opposition parties earn public trust through credibility and responsible conduct rather than sensational claims.
The statement also defended members of the current administration, describing many government officials as accomplished professionals who established successful careers before entering public service. As a result, the party said such individuals have every right to protect their reputations against allegations they consider unfounded.
While affirming the right of the APC to criticize government policies and offer alternative viewpoints, the Labour Party insisted that such criticisms should be backed by verifiable evidence. It warned against what it described as the growing trend of political propaganda and misinformation.
Concluding the statement, the Labour Party urged the APC to embrace what it called the true principles of opposition politics, including responsibility, credibility, and policy-driven engagement. The party expressed confidence that Abia residents are capable of distinguishing between genuine political discourse and what it termed political desperation.
The statement was signed by Iroegbu Emenike, Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party in Abia State.
