Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has warned politicians and their supporters against acts of violence during the 2027 electioneering campaign, assuring that the state will maintain a peaceful and open environment for political activities.
Otti gave the warning on Tuesday in Umuahia while inaugurating the Labour Party Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections. He said security agencies had been directed to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates to campaign freely without intimidation or violence.
“We have made this place peaceful and open. Violence will not be entertained. We are not going to tolerate violence,” the governor said.
Otti also urged members of the Labour Party and its various support groups to work together and avoid divisions that could undermine the party’s electoral prospects. He noted that political campaigns in Nigeria were structured around political parties, adding that independent candidacy was not yet recognised in the country.
The governor therefore called on groups such as Abia Arise and the various campaign councils of individual candidates to coordinate their activities with the party leadership and other stakeholders.
While inaugurating the campaign council, Otti described the appointment of its members as a call to service rather than an opportunity for anyone to assume superiority over others. He urged them to see themselves as “best among equals” and work collectively towards the party’s success.
He further directed the council to engage with grassroots structures and other groups within the party, stressing that no individual or group could successfully prosecute the 2027 campaign alone.
“The leadership for this campaign goes beyond people sitting here. Everybody is involved,” Otti said.
The governor also urged Labour Party candidates to constitute their own campaign councils to strengthen mobilisation and coordination across their respective constituencies. He said the state campaign council would provide overall coordination, while candidates and grassroots structures would take responsibility for mobilising support in their areas.
Otti said the 2027 campaign should be driven by issues, achievements and programmes that directly affect the people, contrasting it with the largely promise-based campaign of 2023.
He cautioned party members against being distracted by opposition propaganda and urged them to remain focused on communicating the Labour Party’s message and achievements to the electorate.
The governor disclosed that the campaign council would be supported by a Campaign Advisory Council, with former Abia State Deputy Governor, Ude Chukwu, expected to play a key role as chairman.
Responding on behalf of the council, its Director-General, Agwu Agwu, assured the governor that members would deploy their experience and commitment to meet and exceed his expectations and work towards securing victory for the Labour Party in the 2027 elections.
