Leaders, stakeholders, and candidates of the Labour Party in Abia North Senatorial District have called for unity, strategic planning, and intensified grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the party can replicate its previous electoral successes across the district.
The call was made during the Abia North Senatorial District Labour Party Stakeholders and Candidates Strategic Summit held in Abiriba, where party leaders, elected officials, candidates, and grassroots mobilisers met to chart a common political direction for the forthcoming elections.
Delivering the opening remarks, Abia Arise Coordinator, Chief Nkem Okoro, said the gathering was long overdue following the party’s victory in the 2023 elections.
He urged party members to move beyond the primary election process and focus on securing victory for all Labour Party candidates in the general election.
According to him, while Abia North had historically played a significant role in determining the political direction of the state, the time had come for stakeholders to unite and consolidate the gains already recorded by the party.
Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, described the summit as timely and significant, noting that Governor Alex Otti had continued to build public confidence through good governance since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
He commended the people of Abia North for delivering what he described as a “five-over-five” electoral victory during the last governorship election and urged party members to replicate the same performance in the 2027 National Assembly and State Assembly elections.
The Deputy Governor stressed the importance of stakeholder participation, political organisation, and voter registration, maintaining that politics is driven by effective structures and committed grassroots mobilisation.
Former Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu, who delivered the vote of thanks, congratulated all Labour Party candidates and reminded stakeholders that the real work had only just begun.
He urged party members not to take victory for granted but to intensify efforts in election planning, voter mobilisation, and vote protection.
According to him, regular engagement between party leaders, candidates, and supporters would strengthen the party’s structure ahead of the elections.
Several goodwill messages were delivered by government officials and party leaders, all of whom emphasised the need for unity and collective commitment.
The Commissioner for Trade and Commerce called on party members to speak with one voice and remain focused on returning Governor Alex Otti, Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, and all Labour Party candidates in 2027.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Agbaeze, reaffirmed his support for the party’s candidates, expressing confidence that the Labour Party would retain the governorship while winning other elective positions across Abia North.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem, also urged members to remain committed to the party’s vision, insisting that the Labour Party remained well-positioned for victory.
Speaking on behalf of local government officials, the Mayor of Ohafia, Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu, assured party leaders that grassroots structures across the local governments were fully mobilised and prepared for the electoral task ahead.
He attributed the confidence of party supporters to what he described as the performance of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, adding that local government officials would continue to intensify voter registration, membership drive, and grassroots engagement.
Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, thanked party supporters for their commitment and urged members to remain vigilant in protecting their votes during the elections.
He encouraged stakeholders not to relent in supporting Governor Otti, assuring them that the administration would continue to justify the confidence reposed in it.
Also addressing the summit, the Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, stressed the need for deliberate electoral planning rather than relying solely on optimism.
He urged the party to strengthen its official structures ahead of the elections, noting that Labour Party not affiliated support groups, would appear on the ballot paper.
According to him, strengthening party identity at the grassroots would reduce voter confusion and improve electoral performance.
In his address, the Labour Party’s Abia North Senatorial candidate, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, popularly known as Bourdex, declared that the summit demonstrated that the Labour Party in Abia North was united, organised, and fully prepared for the 2027 elections.
He acknowledged an earlier gathering of non-partisan leaders, professionals, and stakeholders under the Alliance for Good Governance in Abia State, describing their endorsement of Governor Alex Otti’s administration as a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to continuity in governance.
Chief Onuoha thanked party members, stakeholders, women, youths, and volunteers for their contributions during the primary election process, stressing that the party’s tickets belonged collectively to every Labour Party member.
He called for immediate strategic planning across all wards, polling units, and local governments, insisting that electoral victory would only be achieved through unity, organisation, and coordinated grassroots mobilisation.
According to him, the first election in the 2027 cycle would be critical in building momentum for subsequent contests, adding that every vote and every polling unit would matter.
The senatorial candidate reiterated his commitment to partnering with stakeholders to attract development, expand opportunities for young people, and consolidate the gains already recorded under Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
He concluded by appreciating Governor Alex Otti for what he described as his unwavering determination to leave Abia State better than he met it, while urging party faithful to remain united in pursuit of a common political goal.
