2027: Otti warns against violence during electioneering campaign
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”.
Otti urged the candidates to constitute their own campaign councils, saying such structures would strengthen the party and help it achieve better results.
He assured that the state campaign council would provide overall coordination, while candidates and grassroots structures must equally take responsibility for mobilising support in their respective areas.
The governor emphasised that while the 2023 campaign was largely characterised by promises, the 2027 campaign would focus more on issues, achievements and programmes that matter to the people, and cautioned members against allowing opponents to distract them with propaganda.
He urged them to remain focused on issues and communicate the party’s message effectively to the electorate, disclosing that the campaign council would be complemented by a Campaign Advisory Council, which would be constituted with the former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ude Chukwu, playing a key role as chairman.
Responding on behalf of the members, the Director-General of the campaign council, Agwu Agwu, assured Otti that the council would work diligently to meet and exceed his expectations, pledging to deploy their collective experiences and commitment to secure victory for the Labour Party.
to like, bookmark, and comment.
Comments
Join the conversation:
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.