By Bath Okere,Umuahia

As campaign for 2027 election heats up,Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has kicked- off the campaigns for his re-election for second term in office calling for a massive voter turnout of residents to mobilise support and vote for the Labour Party (LP), and its candidates.

Governor Otti made the call on Friday, at the Peace Secondary School field, Isuochi, during the Labour Party,LP, electioneering campaign rally in Umunneochi Local Government Area.

Otti urged the people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing PVC collection exercise, vote for all Labour Party candidates in the 2027 general elections, and remain vigilant in protecting their votes.

Emphasising the need for credible elections, Governor Otti declared that the guiding principle of the forthcoming elections must be “One man, one vote,” urging the electorate to remain determined and ensure that their votes count.

The Governor expressed profound appreciation to the people of Umunneochi for their consistent support since 2015, assuring them that his administration remains committed to delivering more developmental projects across the area.

Acknowledging the people’s unwavering support in previous elections, Governor Otti said: “Since 2015, when I showed up to contest election in Abia State, I’ve always won Umunneochi, and that is very correct.

“I want to use this opportunity to say, thank you to all of you. We cannot take you for granted.”

The Governor noted that although his administration had spent only three years and five months in office, it had recorded significant progress in Umunneochi. These include the delivery and functionalisation of 12 out of 18 Primary Healthcare Centres, the retrofitting of several primary and secondary schools, and the ongoing development of a Smart School in the area.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, and made available to Journalists in Umuahia.

Governor Otti further disclosed that a General Hospital was under construction in Umunneochi, describing it as a landmark project that would be delivered in the area for the first time.

The State Chief Executive added that his administration had also taken decisive steps to address insecurity and was determined to sustain its efforts until lasting peace is achieved.

On road infrastructure, the Governor said the 11.27-kilometre ring road from Ngodo is nearing completion, while the Mman Bridge is at the design stage. He assured the people that construction would commence soon and that he would return to the area to flag-off the project.

Gov. Otti disclosed that several other roads had also been captured in the administration’s development plans. While acknowledging that more work remained to be done, Governor Otti assured the people that his government would not disappoint them, stressing that his administration is committed to delivering results rather than making unfulfilled promises.

“Instead of saying something and not doing it, we do what we did not say,” Gov. Otti declared, adding that although some projects might take time, his government would continue to address the needs of the people.

The Governor also welcomed new members and Umunneochi political leaders into the Labour Party, assuring them of equal treatment and opportunities, irrespective of when they joined the party. He stressed that the party believes in fairness and inclusiveness, noting that all members are equal.

Before arriving at the rally venue, Governor Otti visited the palace of HRH. Eze Ifeanyi Eke at Amaeke Uru, Lokpanta, Umuchieze, where he interacted with the Umunneochi Council of Traditional Rulers.

The traditional rulers thanked him for the verifiable and impactful projects executed in Umunneochi and declared that he is not in contention with anyone in the 2027 governorship election.

While pronouncing their royal blessings on the Governor, they assured him of doubling the votes they gave him in the last election and appealed for more projects in their Local Government Area.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, explained that the Campaign Council was determined to ensure that Governor Otti visited every nook and cranny of the State to interact with the people, enable them to see and feel his presence, and demonstrate appreciation for the administration’s accomplishments.

Rt. Hon. Agwu recalled that the Governor had stopped at various points before arriving at the venue, where he interacted with different groups of people in the area. He described their enthusiastic reception as an expression of genuine love for the Governor.

He said the warm reception reflected the people’s appreciation of the developmental strides recorded in the State over the past three years.

In their goodwill messages, the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah; Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia North, Chief David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex); member representing Umunneochi State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathias Ume Nwachi; and the Mayor of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Mr. Sunny Afurobi, expressed delight at receiving the Governor and other Labour Party candidates.

They commended Governor Otti for the developmental projects executed within three years, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and the restoration of security. They also noted that the administration had delivered projects which, according to them, previous administrations could not accomplish in 24 years.

They urged the Governor not to be distracted by the diminishing bitter opposition, assuring him of the continued support of the people of Umunneochi and their commitment to supporting Labour Party candidates in the 2027 general elections.

A major highlight of the campaign rally was the formal reception of defectors from other political parties into the Labour Party.

By David Owei

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri for refusing to identify with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

The party’s publicity secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, said in a press statement issued in Yenagoa that the Diri-led APC government is afraid to associate with the Tinubu re-election campaign by erecting billboards without President Tinubu’s re-election.

According to him, several billboards in Yenagoa, the State capital, showed that Diri was urging the electorate in Bayelsa to vote for all the APC candidates in the National Assembly and State Assembly elections without mentioning the President.

Mark stated that Diri’s body language is enough indication to show that he is not on the same page with the APC national leadership.

‘’When we said that the governor, Senator Douye Diri, is not supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we knew exactly what we were saying. Now Governor Douye Diri has erected APC campaign billboards across Bayelsa State without Tinubu’s picture. He is even afraid to associate himself with the photograph of the Presidential candidate of his own party. How can this governor claim to be supporting President Tinubu?

By Mike Obi, Abuja

Ahead 2027 general election, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has given reasons on why it would be a stress free victory for President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 general elecAnthonytions.

Wike stated this during a town hall meeting with the people of Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

While giving the reasons, Wike claimed that Rivers State had received no fewer than 47 federal appointments under Tinubu’s administration, a figure he described as unprecedented when compared with the previous administrations of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

He also cited the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road as one of the major benefits of the Tinubu administration to Rivers State among other things he mentioned,noting that residents who previously depended on water transportation could now travel by road.

He urged the people to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, as well as the APC governorship candidate, Kinsley Chinda, and other candidates.

The minister also canvassed support for APC candidates seeking election into the Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wike said the APC had become the strongest political platform for the forthcoming elections, insisting that voting for candidates outside the party in the area would amount to wasting votes.

He specifically cautioned the people against supporting a son of the area contesting the governorship election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the party lacked the political strength to win the presidency or governorship.

“I know one of your sons is running for governorship under NDC. We want our son to be governor, but we must be realistic. As it is today, he cannot be under that party. It is not possible,” he said.

Wike argued that the people should distinguish between emotional attachment to a candidate and the political realities of winning an election.

He said the area already had a governorship candidate and deputy governor from its political fold under the APC, adding that supporting another candidate on a platform he described as electorally weak would not advance the interests of the people.

The former Rivers governor also dismissed the prospects of opposition parties challenging Tinubu in 2027, citing the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the difficulty of building a formidable opposition coalition.

“Talking about the crisis in the PDP, I have said it will be difficult for us to present a credible presidential candidate that can challenge this election. Therefore, there is no need to bother ourselves. Let us continue to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Wike defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a demonstration of political courage and leadership.

He acknowledged that the policies had brought hardship to Nigerians but maintained that the sacrifices were temporary and necessary to reposition the country.

According to him, Tinubu took decisions that previous administrations avoided because of their potential political consequences.

“Leadership is key. This country requires leadership with courage. Our problem has been leadership,” he said.

Wike cited the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as having questioned whether a conventional politician would take such politically risky decisions while seeking a second term.

He said the President’s policies would yield positive results when fully implemented and stabilised.

The minister also credited the Tinubu administration with improving federal revenue allocations to states and local governments, noting that local government chairmen now had greater financial resources to execute projects.

Wike had earlier paid a traditional homage to the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, HRM King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (II).

The monarch expressed profound gratitude for past infrastructural interventions in the community and remarkable peace, development and cooperative spirit within the region.

The King said: “The only thing we wish you is that now that you’re all together, we have the confidence that every election season, we used to panic that there would be crisis. But I thank Almighty God that this time around, there will be no crisis”.

The chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Aboiya Bob-Fubara vowed to continue to mobilize his people from the re-election of President Tinubu and other candidates.