YPP denies alliance talks with LP in Abia state

By Christiana Ekpa

Abia State chapter of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) has dismissed media reports that its structures have collapsed into the Labour Party (LP).
The party was reacting to the reported appointment of its State Chairman, Mr Chimezie Nelson as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the transition Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, Victor Ikeji.
YPP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Bestman Eruba, said the appointment of the State’s YPP Chairman into LP-led administration should not be considered the end of the YPP in Abia State, but should be regarded as a personal decision taken by an individual member of the YPP.
He made it clear that the YPP was not in any official alliance with the LP and did not intend to do so.
Eruba, who said that the State Working Committee (SWC) of the YPP and the leaders of the party would soon meet to review the development and take appropriate action, advised the teeming members and supporters of the party to disregard the reports that it had formed an alliance with the LP.
“We are a party with distinct ideology and principles as enunciated in our constitution; accordingly, the decision of the party chairman cannot be deemed as the collapse of the most prosperous party in Abia State,” the statement noted.
The Chairman of the Abia State chapter of YPP, Mr Chimezie Nelson was reportedly appointed as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Revenue Mobilization to the Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Victor Ikeji.
The party Chairman was quoted to have declared himself as “one of you”, while addressing some other officials of Umuahia North upon resumption of duty.
YPP was a major opposition party to the PDP in Abia before and during the 2023 general elections, controlling the Osisioma political axis of the State and parts of Obingwa LGA, with its guber candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor winning in Osisioma at the March 18 polls, while the party also won the two Osisioma seats in the Abia State House of Assembly.