Abia State Governor Alex Otti, on Sunday, launched the 2027 Labour Party campaign in Umuahia, the state capital, warning his supporters against preventing opposition parties from carrying out political activities in the state.
Otti stated that he had given a public order allowing opposition parties to use public facilities, such as the stadium, as long as they secured the required approvals and paid the necessary fees.
He cautioned that security agencies had been instructed to arrest anyone who tried to stop any political group from holding legitimate activities, whether or not that person belonged to the Labour Party.
“I have since given a public directive, and I am repeating it here, that opposition parties should not be restricted from the use of public facilities, including the stadium, once they apply and obtain the necessary approvals,” Otti said.
“You do not have my mandate to attack people or to stop people from campaigning. Security agencies have been mandated to arrest and deal decisively with anyone who attempts to obstruct any political group from holding their legitimate activities, even if they are Labour Party members. I hope I am heard clearly,” he added.
The governor counseled political actors to concentrate on issues rather than resort to personal attacks, and he urged them to present their manifestos to the electorate.
He stated that Abia had gone past campaigning on salary and pension payments, road construction, and urban sanitation, observing that those fundamental governance matters had already been dealt with.
“Do not forget that in Abia we have gone past the era of campaigning on the payment of salaries and pensions and the construction of roads or urban sanitation.
“The hygiene issues have been dealt with. If you are unable to raise your campaign pitch to the development realities of our state, you will definitely struggle to convince any informed voter,” he said.
Otti pointed to Abia’s position in the Citizen Satisfaction Index, along with its results in the State Performance Index and Fiscal Performance Ranking compiled by governance-tracking institutions.
“You should go and do your research first before coming out to open your mouth, because there are data everywhere to show what has been achieved. Evidently, the world knows that Abia is on the right track,” he said.
He noted that the testimonies of millions of Abians both at home and abroad confirmed the assessments of multilateral institutions, which had opened up development assistance pathways for the state.
“It would therefore be unthinkable that anyone will ever be allowed to return us to the old era of irresponsibility and misery,” Otti stated.
He thanked residents for turning out in large numbers for the campaign flag-off and encouraged supporters to carry the campaign to every community.
“This is your project, and as you return to the communities, knock on every door and remind our people that we still have a job to complete. Invite them to join the campaign so that together we can conclude the journey that began 12 years ago in faith and optimism,” he added.
