The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said the state has provided a peaceful and open environment for political activities, warning that violence would not be tolerated during the 2027 electioneering campaign.
Otti handed down the warning on Tuesday in Umuahia while inaugurating the Labour Party Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, stating, “We have made this place peaceful and open. Violence will not be entertained. We are not going to tolerate violence.”
He said security agencies had been directed to provide a level playing field for all political campaigns, adding that the directive was intended to ensure that the Labour Party, other political parties and their candidates could campaign freely without intimidation or violence.
Otti said everything about political campaigns was structured around political parties, noting, “Independent candidacy is not allowed in Nigeria yet,” hence, all the pro-groups of the Labour Party, including Abia Arise and the various campaign councils of individual candidates, must work together.
He advised party candidates to work with the leadership of their respective parties and other stakeholders to achieve their objectives.
Inaugurating the campaign council, Otti said the appointment of members was a call to service and not an opportunity for anyone to assume superiority over others, and charged them to work with the party structures and stakeholders at the grassroots to ensure victory for the party.
“Consider yourself as best among equals,” the governor said, stressing that the responsibility before them was to work collectively for the success of the party. He directed members of the council to work with the various groups within the party, stressing that no individual or group could successfully prosecute the campaign alone.
The governor said the leadership of the campaign extended beyond those physically present at the inauguration, adding, “The leadership for this campaign goes beyond people sitting here. Everybody is involved.”
