Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has clinched the Labour Party governorship ticket for the 2027 general election following his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate at the state primary election held in Umuahia, the state capital.
Governor Otti polled a total of 368,213 votes across the 17 local government areas of the state in the party’s primary elections which also produced candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate.
Announcing the results at the conclusion of the primaries, the Returning Officer of the Labour Party Abia State Primaries Election, Mrs Oluchi Opara stated that the exercise was conducted in compliance with the Labour Party constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the party’s electoral guidelines.
“With the power vested on me as the returning officer, I hereby return His Excellency Dr. Alex Choma Otti, to run for this election as our candidate.
“I further affirm that a direct primaries election was conducted across the political wards in the state in substantial compliance with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act 2026 and the Labour Party Electoral Guidelines 2026”, she said.
Mrs Opara also declared candidates for the 24 State House of Assembly constituencies, eight House of Representatives seats and three senatorial districts.
Among those returned were Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for Abia South Senatorial District with 100,842 votes, Darlington Gideon Nwokocha for Abia Central with 138,629 votes and Ogba Onuoha David for Abia North with 120,221 votes.
For the House of Representatives, the party returned Alex Mascot Ikwechegh for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Aguocha Obinna for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Osonwa Ibe Okwara for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency and other candidates across the state’s federal constituencies.
Presenting Governor Otti with his certificate of return, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Hon. Acho Obioma, commended party members and electoral officials for conducting a peaceful, transparent exercise conducted across the state’s wards and devoid of violence.
Hon Obioma hailed the process as a demonstration of internal democracy and organisational discipline ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The LP National Secretary added that party members and electoral officers discharged their responsibilities diligently, adding that the successful conduct of the primaries indicate the growing strength of the Labour Party in the state.
While congratulating Governor Otti, Hon Obioma said, “This is the beginning of the next phase of governing our state.
“And we are happy that at the end of the day, everything went peacefully. There were no incidents anywhere recorded”.
Responding after receiving his certificate, Governor Otti thanked party leaders, electoral officials, observers and members for ensuring a smooth exercise across the state.
Governor Otti also commended the primaries committee for conducting an efficient and effective exercise throughout the state.
“I want to thank you ( Primaries committee) for how everything has ended peacefully. We did not get any negative report from anywhere.
“I want to congratulate all the candidates that emerged moments ago and wish them well. On behalf of all of them, I would like to accept this nomination.
“And I accept it because we know that we still have a lot collectively to deliver to Abia State and, of course, Nigeria”, he said.
Governor Otti disclosed that preliminary reports from election monitors, including observers from the European Union, indicated that the process was peaceful and orderly.
“There was no rancour, there was no violence anywhere. All the disagreements that could have happened have been dealt with even before today. And that’s why we had very smooth primaries across the board”, he said.
The governor urged the newly elected candidates to begin preparations for the 2027 elections, stressing that securing the party’s nomination marked only the beginning of a more demanding political contest.
“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, you know election is contention.
“You have to contend with yourself. At the end of the day the best person must win”, he said.
Governor Otti also challenged the party’s candidates to expand their support base beyond party loyalists by reaching out to undecided voters and non-party members ahead of the general election.
He used the occasion too announce the death of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, AIG Kanayo Uzuegbu, whom he described as “a gentleman and a good man”.
According to the governor, efforts had been made to save the senior police officer, who had reportedly been battling cancer, before news of his death was received during the event.
The event featured a minute’s silence in honour of the late police chief.
