Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has stated that opposition parties are free to conduct campaign activities in the state.
He explained that any opposition party that wishes to use campaign locations in the state can apply for and obtain access, provided they pay the required venue fee.
He added that once payment is made, the government will ensure the venue is made available without issues.
Otti, who emerged as the Labor Party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 Abia governorship election, said his administration supports open political activity and fair participation from all sides.
He said: “We welcome competition from the opposition in Abia State. Any opposition party is free to apply for any location they want in Abia State for a campaign, as long as they pay the required fee. Once you pay, I will make the venue available for you.”
Alex Otti is by a mile the favorite to win the Abia state governorship elections. The Banker-turned-governor has solidified his political base in the state by leading a robust administration that addresses pain points such as road infrastructure, Foreign Direct Investment, and Electricity.
Otti runs under the labour party, where he just secured the gubernatorial ticket for the second time. This time, the governor will be running without the influence of Peter Obi, who has left the party for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Otti is up against the state’s APC machinery, led by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. The APC flagbearer is Eric Opah, a logistics businessman who will be testing his mettle in politics for the first time. Opah is largely unknown in Abia State, raising questions about the APC’s chances in the election.
Besides the APC and the Labour Party in Abia state, there are no other major political parties, making the gubernatorial race a two-horse race.
