The Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) has taken bold steps towards collaborating the Labour Party (LP) leadership in the state to deliver Governor Alex Otti, and all the party’s candidates in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
ASMATA also stressed the need for the LP in Abia State to fully integrate and recognise the crucial roles it could play in the mobilisation and sensitisation of the electorate, especially traders and members of the business community.
Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo, President-General (PG) of ASMATA who spoke during a courtesy visit to the state Chairman of the LP on Wednesday July 29,2026, informed that ASMATA had just concluded an assessment and mobilisation tour of about 29 markets across the state for the primary purpose of ensuring traders participation in registering and obtaining their PVCs .
Udeigbo, who expressed profound satisfaction with the enthusiasm and high compliance level of traders both in the INEC Voters registration exercise and LP e-membership registration, assured of ASMATA’s readiness to commit more efforts in mobilising voters for the election proper.
The ASMATA PG said that since the inauguration of the current leadership of ASMATA for a second term in office it has never relented in its determination to reposition the body as a strong partner in the socio-economic development of Abia state, through effective engagement with traders, markets leadership and relevant Government institutions.
“One of our major assignment came through the directive of the Honourable Commissioner for Trader and Commerce on the 23rd of February ,2026, mandating ASMATA to embark on a comprehensive education and enlightenment campaign across all business communities and markets in Abia state on the need for eligible voters to register and obtain their permanent voters cards PVCs.
“In compliance with the directive, ASMATA immediately mobilised all Markets Chairmen and Secretaries across the state and directed them to liaise with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in their respective markets to facilitate the seamless registration of traders who were yet to obtain their PVCs.
“At the same time, we integrated the Labour Party Electronic Registration exercise into this campaign by directing every market leadership to work closely with the ASMATA/Labour Party E-Registration Monitoring Committee under the able chairmanship of Hon. Uchechukwu Anyanwu.
“This coordination ensured that eligible traders not only registered for their Permanent Voters Cards but were also properly captured in the Labour Party E-membership register.”
“To ensure compliance and assess the level of implementation, the leadership of ASMATA embarked on an extensive statewide market inspection and monitoring of your.
“During these visits, we interacted directly with market executives, traders, INEC officials and members of our monitoring committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercise.” Udeigbo stated
He expressed satisfaction with the remarkable success recorded in both the PVC and Labour e-membership registration exercises.
The ASMATA PG noted that the overwhelming majority of the traders and other market users were captured before the end of the INEC registration window.
Udeigbo emphasised that the significant progress recorded during the exercise is an eloquent testimonial to the implicit confidence reposed in ASMATA leadership by traders across the state.
He therefore urged the LP in the state to always take the ASMATA leadership into confidence in the build-up to the 2027 polls.
“As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming campaigns and elections, we respectively appeal to the leadership of the Labour Party not to overlook the strategic role of ASMATA.
“We humbly request that ASMATA be fully incorporated into every plan, programme and operational strategy relating to the campaign activities across the state,” Udeigbo added.
The LP state chairman, Hon. Peter Azubuike, while appreciating the ASMATA leadership for the visit, also thanked them for their solidarity and commitment to the growth and development of the party.
Azubuike while acknowledging ASMATA’s show of commitment to the re-election bid of Governor Otti, emphasised the need to keep all eyes on the ball until victory is achieved.
The LP Chairman assured them of the commitment of the LP leadership in Abia State towards prioritising the principles of inclusiveness, transparency and fairness in its activities, policies and programmes, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.
