Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has retained his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, as the Labour Party officially flagged off its re-election campaign in Umuahia on Sunday.

Otti announced the decision at the campaign flag-off, where he called on Abians to renew his mandate for another four years to consolidate the achievements of his administration.

The governor said his administration, if re-elected, would focus on expanding development through policies and investment decisions aimed at positioning Abia State to take advantage of opportunities in the emerging economic order.

According to him, the next four years would be dedicated to consolidating the gains recorded across various sectors of the state’s economy and pursuing further development.

Reflecting on his political journey, Otti said his administration’s ambition had always been to restore hope and rebuild governance institutions in the state.

“At inception twelve years ago, we came to you with a message of hope, a commitment to lead the democratic crusade for the souls of our dear state. We never deterred in our commitment because, like us, you have also borne the shame and frustration of governance failure, institutional collapse, and the misery of living like a conquered population,” he said.

He described Abia as being ready for a new political system that prioritises the welfare and development of citizens above political interests.

The governor added that the state had moved beyond years of governance challenges following the Labour Party’s victory in the 2023 governorship election.

“After the man-made disappointments of 2015 and 2019, this siege was broken in 2023, and in a little over three years, thick clouds of despair have parted, a long nightmare has ended, and the light of renewal, restoration and prosperity has risen over our dear state,” Otti said.

Reviewing his administration’s performance, the governor expressed confidence that a fresh mandate in the February 6, 2027 governorship election would enable his government to deliver more development.

“With a fresh mandate in the February 6, 2027, governorship elections, we shall raise the bar even higher and set Abia on the path of irreversible progress through bold leadership, investments in factor assets, and multilevel partnership for prosperity,” he stated.

Otti also assured opposition political parties of access to public facilities for their campaign activities, insisting that his administration would not tolerate the restriction of legitimate political activities.

He said opposition parties could use public facilities, including the stadium, provided they applied, obtained the necessary approvals and complied with established regulations.

“The beauty of democracy is the plurality of options it offers all of us, which is why this administration made it clear that the rascality of years to years will have no place in Abia State anymore,” he said.

The governor further directed security agencies to arrest anyone attempting to disrupt or obstruct the legitimate campaign activities of political parties.

Addressing security operatives, he stressed that they had no instruction from him to attack individuals or prevent opposition parties from campaigning.

He, however, urged political parties to focus their campaigns on issues affecting residents rather than engaging in personal attacks.

Otti said Abia had moved beyond campaigns based solely on the payment of salaries and pensions, road construction and urban sanitation, urging political actors to present broader development plans to the electorate.

Explaining his decision to retain Emetu, the governor described the invitation to join him for another term as an effort to consolidate the administration’s achievements.

He said both men would contest under the Labour Party platform, with the objective of moving governance from the rescue phase to consolidation.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party State Chairman, Peter Azubuike, expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 elections, declaring that it was prepared to win all elective positions in Abia.

“LP is out to win and will clear all elections in Abia. It is LP all the way, as no opposition party is existing in the state,” Azubuike said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, represented by the Deputy National Chairman, Nuhu Mohammed, described the event as more than a campaign launch, saying it was an opportunity to strengthen support for the governor.

He urged Abians to support Otti, whom he described as a leader with impeccable integrity.
Earlier, during the church service preceding the campaign flag-off, the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Chibuzo Opoko, and Emma Okorie of the Living Word Ministry offered prayers for the success of the forthcoming governorship election.

The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Surah Animashaun, has pledged massive support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and other party candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Animashaun expressed confidence that the APC would receive substantial votes across Epe, attributing her optimism to projects and development initiatives being undertaken by the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday, the council chairman, who is also a member of the Lagos State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, made the remarks during an interaction with Hamzat shortly after his arrival for the unveiling of his governorship manifesto in Lagos.

She said the performance of the APC-led governments would feature prominently in the party’s campaign and influence its engagement with voters ahead of the elections.

“Indeed, our work will speak for us. Support Dr Hamzat, President Tinubu, and the APC-led government so that we can finish the jobs we have started, especially the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry.

Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades, and the modernisation of key commercial ports in Lagos as some of the deliverables from new loans,” Animashaun said.

She urged residents of Epe and neighbouring communities to support Hamzat, President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Animashaun maintained that continuity in governance would allow the party to consolidate ongoing development projects and programmes in Lagos and other parts of the country.

She also described her interaction with Hamzat as a reflection of mutual respect and political cooperation among leaders committed to the development of Lagos State.

According to her, the exchange underscored the importance of unity, collaboration and inclusive leadership in advancing the state’s development.

Speaking at the event, Hamzat described the APC as a strong political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the economic reforms and policies of the Tinubu administration would form a significant part of the party’s campaign message.

He expressed confidence in the President’s leadership, noting that the administration’s policies and programmes were designed to reposition the Nigerian economy.

The governorship candidate also promised to work towards making Lagos more prosperous and economically viable if elected in 2027.

“We are going to campaign on the records that the President and his administration have laid a good record and massive economic recovery in the last three and a half years, as well as the incumbent governor of the state,” Hamzat said.

He added that the records of the Federal and Lagos State governments would feature prominently in the APC’s campaign as the party seeks to present its achievements to voters ahead of the elections.

The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by its factional National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, has inaugurated its North-West Campaign Council as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s structures and coordinate mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The inauguration followed a meeting of the party’s North-West Zonal Caucus with governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates, alongside other stakeholders, in Sokoto State on Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Publicity and Spokesperson of the 2027 ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Christopher Okechukwu, Alhaji Nuradeen Lawal Chindo was appointed chairman of the newly inaugurated council, while Dr Bello Shehu was named secretary.

The party reiterated its commitment to an issue-based and people-driven campaign centred on good governance, peace and sustainable development.

The inauguration marks another step in the faction’s efforts to consolidate its presence in the North-West and establish coordinated campaign structures across the region ahead of the 2027 elections.