Governor Alex Otti of Abia has urged Labour Party stakeholders in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, to unite and collectively drive his administration’s development agenda, preparatory to the 2027 polls.

Mr Otti spoke at the Nsulu Labour Party Stakeholders’ Summit, held at the Umuomainta Women Hall on Monday.

The theme of the event was “Sustaining the Transformation: A United Labour Party in Nsulu for 2027 and Beyond”.

The governor, represented by the party’s national  ice chairman, South-East, Ishmeal Onuoha, said unity and peaceful collaboration were essential to sustaining development in the area.

He urged the party stakeholders not to remain on the fence but to actively participate in party activities and align themselves with the vision of his administration.

Mr Otti called for inclusive leadership, respect for party leaders and collective action among stakeholders to strengthen peace, unity and development in Nsulu.

He assured the stakeholders that issues raised at the summit would be adequately considered and addressed, describing the meeting as “the beginning of success”.

He further urged the stakeholders to sustain the spirit of unity beyond the summit and work towards securing victory for the party in 2027.

In his speech, the chief of staff to the governor, Caleb Ajagba, described Nsulu as a community blessed with prominent and influential men and women.

Mr Ajagba expressed optimism that the presence of the stakeholders at the summit would provide a foundation for strengthening the party’s structure in the area.

He said that the immediate task was to build an organised and formidable political structure capable of mobilising support for Otti’s second-term bid and other candidates of the party.

He said that every stakeholder had a role to play, adding that the party would bring together its best team for the task ahead of 2027.

Mr Ajagba announced that the leadership of the Nsulu Labour Party Stakeholders’ Forum would be inaugurated to galvanise support for the governor and other candidates.

In his remark, the state chairman of the party, Peter Azubuike, urged Nsulu leaders to collaborate with stakeholders across the various political blocs in the council area to secure victory for the party.

Mr Azubuike said that the return of Otti for a second term should be a collective responsibility, saying that the governor’s achievements in transforming the state ought to be a driving force for supporting his re-election bid.

Also, the state chairman of Abia Arise (Otti’s political structure), Nkem Okoro, said that the summit underscored the need for unity among party members in Nsulu.

Mr Okoro called for collaboration among the three political blocs in Isiala Ngwa North, including Nsulu, Ngwaukwu and Ntigha.

He argued that a common political objective would strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.

In a presentation entitled “Labour Party Nsulu: The Challenges and Way Forward”, a stakeholder, Chris Ugwumadu, said that unity was critical to the party’s success in 2027.

Mr Ugwumadu said that the party had recorded growth but acknowledged that growth could come with challenges, adding that stakeholders must resolve their differences in pursuit of a common objective.

“We are all committed to delivering the governor and Labour Party candidates in our various wards in Nsulu,” he said.

He urged members to put aside their differences, work together and strengthen the party’s structure at the grassroots.

In separate goodwill messages, other stakeholders, including Godwin Nnaji and John Enyioko, emphasised the need for the Nsulu community to contribute substantially to the party’s electoral performance.

They, therefore, called for sustained unity among community and party leaders.

They cited the Umuomaiukwu Smart School and Abia International Airport project as major investments with potential benefits for the area and the state in general.

The women leader of Umuomainta Community, Esther Mbuko, called for unity and grassroots mobilisation, urging party members to commence door-to-door and person-to-person campaigns.

Ms Mbuko said that the policies and programmes of the Otti-led administration had benefited the people and solicited collective support to sustain the development recorded in the state.

The councillor representing Isiala Nsulu Ward 3, Chinyere Obadiah, said that Mr Otti had remained committed to the rebuilding agenda he articulated before assuming office.

Ms Obadiah, who said she had followed Mr Otti’s political journey since his first governorship bid in 2015, said that the present administration’s infrastructure projects reflected its development agenda.

She urged the people to make deliberate efforts to vote during the 2027 elections.

The summit also featured the inauguration of the executive council members of the Nsulu Labour Party Stakeholders’ Forum. 

(NAN)