Anambra: Labour Party, APGA in War of Words Over Lawmakers’ Performances

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Ahead of the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are at war of words over the legislative performances of their parliamentarians at the state and national assemblies.

While the Labour Party chided APGA that its spheres of influence is limited to Anambra State, it claimed that the Labour Party has a national spread.

The National Publicity Secretary of APGA,  Mazi Ejimofor Opara, had claimed that “Labour Party faithfuls in Anambra State and National Assembly are mere disgruntled elements and power mongers with misplaced priorities and bunch of jokers with no clear-cut directions as to why they were elected to occupy public offices.”

But in a swift reaction, Chibuzo Udekigbo, Director of Communication of the Labour Party said that his party is a national party.

According to Udekigbo, ”At the National Assembly where Labour Party has eight serving members from Anambra State; three are chairmen of various Standing Committees and Deputy Minority Whip; while APGA got none. APGA is a regional party in Anambra State alone.

“It is obvious that Prof. Soludo has entered panic attack, for he is aware that the 2025 governorship election is around the corner and Labour Party is set to rescue Ndi-Anambra from Governor Soludo’s impoverishment policies.”

The Labour party challenged APGA to publish the profiles of its parliamentarians in both the state and national assemblies, stressing, “the academic and professional profiles of our elected national and state assemblies members are quite excellent. Among them are medical doctors, professors, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals who are performing credibly well in their legislative responsibilities. We challenge Mazi Opara to publish the profile of APGA elected members, both at the state and national assemblies.”

On the legislative performances of the lawmakers from both parties, the Labour Party said, “It is on record that Senator Tony Nwoye had an unprecedented empowerment programme, and three state Assembly members of Labour Party, Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu and Barr. Jude Umennajiego, also, recently empowered their constituents in different categories. Senator Victor Umeh and Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu shared bags of rice, as palliatives from the federal government.

“Again, we challenge the National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the empowerment programme done by his party members.”

Flouanting the legislative performances of Labour Party lawmakers at the Senate, the party said that Senator Victor Umeh has moved several Motions on the floor of the Senate, which include his intervention during the demolition of some properties in Igbo dominated areas in Lagos State.

Also, Nwoye has moved several Motions, which include the “rehabilitation of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani Road. The road has been rehabilitated and being enjoyed by motorists.”

Also, the Labour Party said that at the Anambra State House of Assembly that Emeka Idu and  Peter ‘MacPee’ Aniekwe jointly moved a Motion for the dualisation of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani Road, which received legislative attention, while Peter Mac Pee’ Aniekwe just over this weekend, commissioned a borehole at Nando, challenging APGA to state what APGA lawmakers have done at the state and national assemblies.

Labour Party also said that Afam Ogene moved a Motion to include some very important road that one of its member at the national assembly, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu had moved a Motion for capturing of UNIZIK staff on IPPIS and payment of their over two years salaries, and presented two petitions on behalf of her constituents.

Hon. Uche Okonkwo was said to have renovated two schools in Idemmili; namely, Community Primary school, Ugamuma Obosi and Notre Dame High School, Abatete, while Hon. Azubuike Udemezue has two motions on road rehabilitations to his name, which are currently being rehabilitated. “This is to mention but a few, as we challenge the factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the legislative achievements of APGA elected members.”

“We send the errand boy of the APGA-led government on an errand to his benefactor, the governor of Anambra, to leave Labour Party alone and focus on tackling the insecurity, poor medical and school facilities in Anambra, and desist from destroying the goods of petty traders in Awka and Ekwulobia, and fighting the Traditional institution, Religious institutions and opposition parties.”