Otti Flags Off 2027 Campaign, Vows to Sustain Abia’s Rebuilding

By Titus Eleweke

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has formally flagged off the Labour Party’s 2027 election campaign, declaring that his administration is determined to consolidate its achievements and sustain the rebuilding of the state.

Otti made the declaration on Monday at the Umuahia Township Stadium during the official flag-off of the party’s campaign ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship election.

The event also featured the inauguration of the Labour Party Advisory Council, chaired by former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu.

Addressing party leaders, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders, the governor described the campaign as the beginning of a renewed effort to secure the people’s mandate and deepen the administration’s development agenda.

He expressed gratitude to the party leadership, its candidates at the national and state levels, supporters, religious leaders and other distinguished guests who attended the event.

As political activities gather momentum, Otti called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace peace, civility and issue-based engagement, stressing that electoral competition should focus on ideas, policies and the future of Abia rather than personal attacks, intimidation or violence.

He maintained that democracy could only thrive in an atmosphere where divergent opinions were respected and all political groups were allowed to exercise their legitimate rights.

“Our message to Abians is clear: the work of rebuilding our state must continue,” the governor said.

Otti said that over the past 41 months, his administration had taken deliberate steps to address longstanding challenges, improve infrastructure, strengthen public institutions, expand economic opportunities and restore public confidence in governance.

He said the next phase of the administration’s agenda would focus on consolidating the gains recorded so far, deepening development across all sectors and positioning Abia to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.

The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the political rights of opposition parties, declaring that no opposition party or its supporters should be intimidated, harassed or prevented from carrying out legitimate political activities.

He emphasised that public facilities must remain accessible to all political parties in accordance with established regulations, adding that Abia must demonstrate that peaceful coexistence and political competition could thrive together.

Otti thanked members of the newly inaugurated Advisory Council for accepting the responsibility of supporting the party’s campaign and expressed confidence in their contributions to its success across the state.

He urged Abians to scrutinise the Labour Party administration’s record, study its manifesto and engage with its programmes as they prepare to make their choices in the February 6, 2027, election.

The governor called on residents to participate actively in the democratic process, stressing that the future of the state depended on informed choices and peaceful political engagement.

The event ended with renewed calls for party unity and mobilisation under the Labour Party’s slogan: “Forward Ever, Backward Never!”