The Abia state chapter of the Labour Party, has described the statement made by a former member of the House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency and APC Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central, Hon. Emeka Atuma, that federal projects being executed by Governor Alex Otti, including the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, were built by the Federal Government as a barefaced lie.
The LP in release on Monday (19/10/26) endorsed by Iroegbu Emenike, State Publicity Secretary, made it clear that this is a lie from the pit of hell and a deliberate attempt to hoodwink Ndi Abia Central and steal their votes with falsehood.
According to the release, “The Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road is a federal road that was abandoned for decades. The Federal Government only executed about 13.74km out of the 48.92km stretch. The deplorable state of the road caused accidents, deaths, and untold hardship to our people, prompting Governor Alex Otti’s intervention.
” Governor Alex Otti, in his people-centred approach, applied to the Federal Government to take over the road. The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, formally granted approval and handed over the road to the Abia State Government.
“There is an official document to this effect. This was also publicly announced by the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, on 31st October 2025, with the express approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The LP reminded Atuma that the Federal Government officially announced that it “will not refund states for now” for federal roads fixed by them, an announcement made by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on 31st August 2023, when he visited Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in Ibadan.
“The economy right now will not permit any commitment by the Federal Government.”
“Let me make it very clear that our economy right now will not permit any commitment of the Federal Government to repay states that are doing federal roads,” the Party quoted Umahi.
While recalling that the same policy was earlier stated by the Buhari administration. In May 2023, then Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, the Abia chapter of LP noted: “On 24th October 2025, Governor Otti flagged off the reconstruction of the 25km Abia stretch of the road at Ahiaeke, Umuahia. The project, awarded to GELD Construction Ltd, is being funded 100% by the Abia State Government, with solar-powered streetlights and modern drainage.
“There is, therefore, NO controversy as to who is building the road. It is Dr. Alex Otti and the Abia State Government. Even the Federal Government has acknowledged it.”
The Party described it as pathetic that Hon. Atuma, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia for years in the House of Representatives with nothing allegedly to show for it, and who has been an integral part of the ruling APC at the centre for years without attracting any meaningful project to Abia Central, would resort to claiming other people’s work to launder his political image and brighten the chances.
LP therefore enjoined Abians to beware of Atuma and his ilk who, allegedly, have no record of performance but have mastered the art of lying to deceive the people in every election season.
“From all indications, Atuma has seen clearly that he stands no chance against the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, Distinguished Senator Darlington Nwokocha, hence his resort to falsehood as a strategy to convince unsuspecting electorates to support him. Unfortunately for him, this strategy represents even greater doom for him.
“If Hon. Atuma is ashamed that he has no project to campaign with, he should be humble enough to tell the people what he would do in the unlikely event that he is elected.
“We call on Ndi Abia Central to reject this politics of lies and deception. The Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, Tower-Onuimo Road, Port Harcourt Road, Emenuko Bridge and other federal roads and bridges are projects executed or being executed by the Abia State Government,” the Party stated.
