Abia Governor Alex Otti Warns Supporters Against Disrupting Rival Campaigns

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has cautioned supporters of the Labour Party against taking the law into their hands or interfering with the campaign activities of rival political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The governor warned that no political affiliation would shield anyone from arrest for disrupting the lawful activities of opposition parties, stressing that political competition must be conducted within the ambit of the law.

Otti spoke in Umuahia while formally flagging off the Labour Party's 2027 campaign in the state, where he declared that his administration would not tolerate political intolerance or the denial of opponents' democratic rights. He stated that opposition parties were free to use public facilities, including stadiums, provided they complied with established procedures, obtained necessary approvals, and paid the stipulated fees.

Reiterating his position, the governor said security agencies had been instructed to ensure that no political group was prevented from holding legitimate rallies or other campaign activities. He warned party loyalists against assuming that membership of the ruling party conferred immunity for acts capable of undermining the democratic process, adding that law enforcement officers had been told to deal decisively with anyone attempting to obstruct other political groups.

Beyond the conduct of campaigns, Otti challenged opposition parties to raise the quality of political debate by offering alternative policy directions rather than relying on personal attacks or recycling issues. He urged political opponents to interrogate available performance data before making claims about the state, pointing to Abia's ratings in governance-monitoring indices.

The governor called on party supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation and take the message of the party to communities across the state as part of efforts to complete ongoing governance objectives. The event featured the presentation of party flags to national and state house of assembly candidates for the upcoming polls.

Source reporting: Vanguard — 2026-11-01 17:57:57