2027: Abia APC Speaks on Coalition With Otti, Labour Party

Abia state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected reports suggesting that the party is negotiating an alliance with Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC state chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, who addressed the alleged arrangement on Monday, described it as untrue.

He insisted that the party had no agreement with Otti or the LP and would not enter into what he called an “unholy alliance” with the ruling party in the state.

Chukwu spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the APC secretariat in Umuahia, where he said he had consulted key party leaders and could confirm that no such agreement existed.

“If there is anybody that should know, I should be the one. I am the state chairman, and I have consulted the highest stakeholders in the state, and I want to tell you that there is no such unholy alliance, and there will never be,” he said.

He specifically dismissed claims that the APC governorship candidate, Eric Opah, and other party stakeholders had reached an understanding with the LP ahead of the election.

The chairman also launched a strong attack on the Otti administration, accusing it of poor accountability and alleged inflation of government contracts.

He questioned some of the state government’s spending, particularly its expenditure on school renovation, while also criticising policies he said had restricted freedom of expression.

Chukwu said the APC would not support an alliance with a government it accused of failing to uphold transparency and accountability.

“A party that has claimed billions of naira in the name of school renovation… a party in a state that has not taken the issue of accountability seriously, contracts are being over-inflated,” he said.

He urged APC members and candidates to remain loyal to the party as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify, warning those who secured the party’s tickets against using them as bargaining chips in negotiations with rival parties.

“We need to go into the election as one strong body. If you think you have taken the ticket of this party for the House of Assembly, and you are going to use it to negotiate, we are watching you,” Chukwu warned.

According to him, any political negotiations involving the APC would be guided by the party’s commitment to good governance, accountability and improved welfare for residents.

He said the party’s priority was to produce a government capable of paying pensions and providing an acceptable minimum wage for workers in the state.

Chukwu expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections in Abia, urging members to remain committed to the party if they wanted to benefit from its political structure.

“I can only be a beneficiary when I have a governor that is APC, when I have a senator that is APC, when I have a House of Representatives member that is APC, when I have a House of Assembly member that is APC, likewise you,” he said.

Meanwhile, the APC stakeholders also granted unconditional pardon to some members facing disciplinary measures within the party.

Those pardoned included Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, and the member representing Ukwa Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta.

The two lawmakers had recently faced suspension over alleged anti-party activities.