Onyebuchi Ememanka, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has officially parted ways with his former boss and declared support for Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party.
Ememanka, who was a visible figure throughout Ikpeazu’s administration, made the announcement on Facebook, sharing a photo with Governor Otti and stating that his decision followed “a series of meetings and deep personal reflection.”
“A time has come for me to choose a new path for Abia State’s future,” he wrote. “I have chosen to put Abia first and prioritise her sustainable development above all else. I have chosen Otti. I have chosen the Labour Party.”
His defection comes just a week after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s failure to address its internal challenges and formulate a viable strategy for the future.
“Remaining in the PDP will make my vision a mirage,” he noted in his resignation letter. “I will always be grateful to the party for the platform and cooperation I received while serving.”
Ememanka’s move adds to a wave of defections from Ikpeazu’s camp, reflecting the former governor’s diminishing political clout. Others who have exited the PDP include Anthony Agbazuere, Ikpeazu’s former Chief of Staff; Eze Chikamnayo, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy; and Chief Chimezie Okoronkwo, who represented Abia in the Niger Delta Development Commission. Several other ex-commissioners and a former chairman of ASOPADEC have also left the party.
