Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has warned his supporters against attacking opposition parties or obstructing their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mr Otti gave the warning on Sunday during the flag-off of the Labour Party Campaign for the 2027 general election at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the campaign theme is “Forward Ever, Backwards Never”.
The governor urged his supporters to respect other political parties’ right to campaign freely.
“You do not have my mandate to attack people or to stop people from campaigning. You have no such mandate from me,” he said.
The governor said the opposition parties should be allowed to use public facilities, including the stadium, provided they applied, obtained the necessary approvals and made the required payments.
He also disclosed that security agencies had been directed to arrest and deal decisively with anyone attempting to obstruct any political group from conducting legitimate activities, including Labour Party members.
“I have since given a public directive, and I am repeating it here, that opposition parties should not be restricted from the use of public facilities, including the stadium,” he said.
Mr Otti urged political parties to focus their campaigns on issues affecting the people, present their manifestos and avoid unnecessary personal attacks.
Otti congratulate opposition parties
Governor Otti congratulated the opposition parties on successfully concluding their internal selection processes and wished their candidates well in their campaigns across the state.
The governor said the beauty of democracy lies in the plurality of options available to the electorate, stressing that his administration would not tolerate political intimidation or obstruction of legitimate activities.
He also urged his supporters to work towards peaceful campaigns and ensure that the 2027 electoral process remained issue-based.
Mr Otti further said he was seeking re-election in 2027 to consolidate his administration’s achievements over the last three years.
He said he and his running mate, Ikechukwu Emetu, have presented themselves for another four-year mandate to deepen the state’s development across various sectors.
The governor identified three reasons for seeking re-election: moving governance from rescue to consolidation, institutionalising excellence and accountability in public service, and repositioning the state for emerging economic opportunities.
Mr Otti said he would use the proposed second term to strengthen public institutions, deepen development and prepare a new generation of leaders to sustain the state’s progress.
Remarks by national chairman of Labour Party
He urged supporters to mobilise voters across the state to ensure a Labour Party victory in the 6 February 2027 governorship election.
In her speech, Labour Party National Chairman Nenadi Usman praised Mr Otti’s performance in Abia, describing the state as a model of purposeful leadership and development.
Ms Usman, represented by a member of the party’s National Working Committee, Salisu Mohammed, said the large turnout at the rally demonstrated Abians’ confidence in the present administration and their support for his re-election.
“The whole country is looking up to our party to provide the credible platform that it represents for the salvation of Nigeria,” she said.
Ms Usman expressed confidence that the 2027 general elections would usher in victories for the Labour Party, beginning with Abia and extending to other parts of the country.
The State Chairman of the party, Peter Azubuike, said the party would win the 2027 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Mr Azubuike said the Labour Party was mobilising members and supporters for a door-to-door campaign to secure votes across the state.
He urged party members to remain committed to the campaign, expressing confidence that the party would win all elective positions in the state.
In his address, the Director-General of the Abia Labour Party Campaign Council, Agwu Agwu, described the campaign theme as both a testimony to the Otti-led administration’s achievements and a mandate for greater performance.
Mr Agwu urged campaign council members to uphold discipline, loyalty and commitment, and run issue-based campaigns anchored on the administration’s verifiable achievements.
In their separate remarks, the lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the massive turnout of residents showed that the Labour Party enjoyed the goodwill of the citizenry.
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They urged citizens to ensure the turnout translates into votes that will help secure victories for all the party’s candidates at the polls in 2027.
The Methodist Bishop of Umuahia, Chibuzo Opoko, commended Mr Otti’s administration for improvements in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare and security across Abia.
Mr Opoko praised the governor’s environmental sanitation efforts and urged God to grant him another four-year term to consolidate his achievements.
In his homily, the General Overseer of Living Word Ministries, Emma Okorie, described Governor Otti as a visionary leader whose administration has transformed Abia through purposeful leadership and development initiatives.
Mr Okorie said the improved environmental sanitation had changed Abia’s former negative image, adding that he was now proud to identify with the state and urged the governor to keep up the good work.
The event featured the inauguration of the Abia State Labour Party Advisory Campaign Council and the handover of party flags to all candidates.
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