Labour Party Picks Otti, Others as Candidates for 2027 Elections in Abia

The Labour Party (LP) has concluded its primary elections in Abia State, producing candidates for the 2027 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections, with Governor Alex Otti emerging as the party’s governorship candidate after polling 368,230 votes.

Speaking at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, where he was declared winner by the party’s National Organising Secretary and Returning Officer, Mrs. Opara, Otti said the emergence of candidates marked the beginning of a more demanding phase of political engagement.

“I want to also call our attention to the fact that the job has just started. This crosses you to where you need to start fighting from.

“If you were not a candidate, then you can't fight. But now that you are a candidate, election is contention. You have to contend. At the end of the day, the best person must win, and it is only one person that will win.

“A lot of our candidates have done elections before and won those elections, so you are going to do better. If you look at the number of people that came out for the primaries, you will find that it was twice the total number of votes that we got the last time.

“And this is just Labour Party. There are a lot of people who do not belong to parties who you need to go out and talk to and convince to either join the party or at least vote for members of the party.”

The governor thanked the primary election committee, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitoring team and party members for ensuring a peaceful process.

Accepting the nomination, Otti said:

“I would like to accept this nomination. And I accept it because we know that we still have a lot collectively to deliver to Abians and, of course, Nigeria.”

He commended party leaders for resolving internal disagreements ahead of the exercise, noting that the primaries were conducted without rancour.

“There was no rancour, there was no violence anywhere.

“All the disagreements that could have happened were dealt with even before today. That is why we had a very smooth primary across board.

“I want to thank our leaders who sat down in the last several weeks trying to resolve problems and disagreements between us that led to consensus candidates in virtually every constituency.”

Otti Announces Death of AIG Uzuegbu

During the event, Governor Otti announced the death of Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Kanayo Uzuegbu.

The governor described the late police chief as “a very good man” and expressed regret over his passing despite efforts to save his life. He subsequently directed that a minute’s silence be observed in his honour.

Labour Party Leadership Congratulates Candidates

Presenting Otti with his Certificate of Return, Labour Party National Secretary, Acho Obioma, congratulated the governor and other successful candidates.

“This is the beginning of the next phase of governorship in Abia State.”

Obioma said Abians were satisfied with Otti’s leadership and expressed confidence that the governor would consolidate on his achievements if re-elected.

Earlier, Returning Officer Mrs. Opara announced that Otti scored 368,230 votes, explaining that the exercise was conducted through direct primaries in compliance with the Labour Party constitution and INEC guidelines.

Senatorial Candidates

The party also produced candidates for the three senatorial districts:

Enyinnaya Abaribe – Abia South

Darlington Nwokocha – Abia Central

David Ogba Onuoha – Abia North

House of Representatives Candidates

Successful candidates for the House of Representatives include:

Obi Aguocha – Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South

Ginger Onwusibe – Isiala Ngwa North/South

Amobi Ogah – Isuikwuato/Umunneochi

Alex Ikwechegh – Aba North/Aba South

Ibe Okwara Osonwa – Arochukwu/Ohafia

Chima Desmond Anyaso – Bende

Ugochukwu Adinigwe – Ukwa East/West

Wambu Chiemela – Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo

State Assembly Candidates

The party also produced candidates for all 24 constituencies in the Abia State House of Assembly, including Isienyi Boniface (Ikwuano), Okorie Chinedu Edwin (Bende South), Okoro Uchenna Kalu (Arochukwu), Ibekwe Nnamdi Chimdi (Bende North), Iheonuneku Ugochukwu Collins (Isiala Ngwa North), Roland Chinwendu (Isiala Ngwa South), Lucky Udoka Nweke Johnson (Isuikwuato), Onwubiko Victoria (Obingwa West), Kalu Nwoke (Ohafia South), Kelechi Seth Ebere (Obingwa East), Mkpa Oju Uka (Ohafia North), Nwogu Ihanacho Emmanuel (Osisioma North), Ahuama Onyekachi Fyne (Osisioma South), Uruakpa Chijioke (Ugwunagbo), Obiani Louis Chinemerem (Ukwa East), Akukanna Chiemeka (Ukwa West), Anthony Chinasa Abiola (Umuahia Central), Augustine Okezie Merigini (Umuahia East), Akaliro Kelechi Anderson (Umuahia North), Obioma Emeka (Umuahia South), Umeh Martias (Umunneochi), Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu (Aba Central), Ehuchie Ijeoma-Florence (Aba North) and Emmanuel Iheoma Emeruwa (Aba South).

INEC Observes Exercise

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, led by Resident Electoral Commissioner Silvia Agu, alongside independent observers, monitored the collation and declaration of results.

Earlier in the day, Governor Otti and his wife, Priscilla Chidinma Otti, participated in the direct primary election at their ward in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area before proceeding to the state collation centre in Umuahia, where the governor received the Labour Party Certificate of Return for the 2027 governorship election.

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#LabourParty #AlexOtti #AbiaPolitics #Abia2027 #GovernorshipElection #LPPrimaries #NigeriaPolitics #INEC #AbiaState #2027Elections