Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has inaugurated the Labour Party Governorship Campaign Council for the 2027 election, charging members to work with party structures and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and issue-based campaign.
Under the new structure of the council, Governor Otti, will serve as Chairman, his deputy, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu, as Vice Chairman, while former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, will serve as the Director-General.
Other members of the council are Dr Eric Egwuibe, Director of Finance, Dr Chibuzor Obiesili, Director of Strategy and Planning, Kelechi Nwaiwu SAN, Director of Legal; Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, Director of Publicity; Dr Christian Anokwuru, Director of Special Duties; and retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Arungwa Nwazue, Director of Security.
The 33-member Governorship Campaign Council also comprises three zonal coordinators and 24 state constituency coordinators drawn from various local government areas across the state
Inaugurating the council at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, on Monday, Governor Otti tasked member to take the campaign to the grassroots.
The Governor warned that his administration would not tolerate violence during the 2027 electoral process, adding that relevant security agencies had been directed to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
He said the electioneering activities must be conducted peacefully, stressing that the state had moved away from the pattern of political violence associated with previous elections.
According to him, unlike the 2023 election, which was largely centred on promises, the 2027 campaign would be anchored on issues and the performance of his administration.
Governor Otti said the government now had tangible achievements to present to the electorate, urging members of the campaign council not to be distracted or misled by what he described as the propaganda machinery of the opposition.
“We are not going to tolerate violence of any kind.
“So you are hearing from me now that if you go out there to unleash violence, you are on your own and we will not take it from you.
“We have maintained that two wrongs cannot make a right. So we are not going to go back to those errors. That era is gone”, the governor said.
He also announced plans to constitute an advisory Campaign Council in the coming days, to be headed by the immediate past Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu.
Governor Otti said the advisory council would be responsible for galvanising stakeholders across the state towards securing total victory for the Labour Party in the 2027 election.
The Governor who noted that the Council members were selected based on merit, urged them to work closely with the party structure, government appointees, stakeholders, youth and women groups, candidates and leaders of various support groups across the wards and local government areas.
According to him, the state council was intended to provide leadership and coordination, while the real mobilisation would take place at the grassroots.
Responding on behalf of members of the campaign council, its Director-General, Rt. Hon Agwu U. Agwu, thanked Governor Otti for finding the members worthy of the responsibilities entrusted to them.
Rt. Hon Agwu assured the governor that the council would exceed expectations, noting that the administration’s achievements had already provided a strong foundation for the campaign.
He said the council would build on the governor’s performance and work collectively towards securing victory for the Labour Party in the 2027 governorship election.
In an with journalists, the Director of Publicity, Barrister Onyebuchi Ememanka, pledged to bring his wealth of experience to bear in collaboration with other members of the campaign council to secure victory for Governor Otti and other Labour Party candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Ememanka described members of the council as trusted and tested individuals of proven integrity who had distinguished themselves in various positions of responsibility.
He expressed confidence that the 2027 election would be less challenging for the council, noting that Governor Otti’s achievements in office had already provided a strong foundation for the campaign and put the administration in a favourable position ahead of the election.
