DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

2027: Otti seeks reconciliation as LP ratifies 1,211 candidates

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Abia State Governor Alex Otti urged Labour Party members to unite and reconcile after the party's nationwide primaries.
  • The party ratified 1,211 candidates for the 2027 general elections, including a presidential candidate, emphasizing unity to counter opposition exploitation.
  • Party leaders stressed that reconciliation and collective action are crucial for electoral success, addressing recent internal leadership disputes.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has called for unity and reconciliation within Nigeria's Labour Party, warning that internal divisions could jeopardize its prospects in the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, where the party confirmed 1,211 candidates for various positions, Otti, represented by his deputy Ikechukwu Emetu, stressed that primary election contests should not lead to lasting divisions.

Elections within the party should never create permanent divisions. The contest is over; the assignment has just begun.

— Alex OttiAbia State Governor Alex Otti's remarks on internal party contests during the Labour Party's National Executive Council meeting.

"Elections within the party should never create permanent divisions. The contest is over; the assignment has just begun," Otti stated. He urged successful candidates to reach out to their rivals and foster reconciliation across all party structures. "Our opponents will seek to exploit divisions among us. We must not give them the opportunity," he added, emphasizing the need for a unified voice and coordinated campaigns.

Our opponents will seek to exploit divisions among us. We must not give them the opportunity.

— Alex OttiGovernor Otti's warning about external exploitation of internal party divisions.

The Labour Party has faced significant internal leadership disputes in recent years, with rival factions vying for control of the party's national structure. National Chairman Nenadi Usman acknowledged that some members might be aggrieved but pleaded for them to set aside grievances for the party's growth. "There must be reconciliation, and we need to work together. The party does not belong to any one person," Usman said, highlighting that a larger membership base strengthens the party's ability to win elections.

You must therefore see yourselves not merely as candidates, but as ambassadors of hope and agents of change.

— Alex OttiGovernor Otti's charge to the newly ratified candidates.

National Secretary Iheanacho Obioma presented the primaries report, confirming that elections were conducted across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in compliance with constitutional and electoral guidelines. The party leadership's focus now shifts to consolidating its ranks and presenting a united front for the upcoming electoral battles.

We must speak with one voice and mobilise collectively.

— Alex OttiGovernor Otti's call for unified action and mobilization.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog