Labour Party urges leaders to follow Otti’s example before 2027 polls

The Labour Party has urged governors and other political leaders across Nigeria to emulate the leadership style of Abia State Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, made the appeal in an Independence Day message on Wednesday. He said Otti, who was elected on the Labour Party platform in 2023, had demonstrated what the party described as credible leadership and had given Nigerians seeking change a reason to trust its candidates.

Asogwa called on people in public office to govern with empathy, justice and transparency, while placing citizens’ welfare at the centre of their decisions. He said the party believed no country could achieve meaningful development without deliberately prioritising the wellbeing of its people. The statement came as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential, governorship and legislative contests.

Asogwa said the Labour Party had fielded candidates it considered competent and credible, from the presidential level to state assemblies, and urged voters to consider the party as an alternative. He attributed some of Nigeria’s current economic and security difficulties to what he called years of ineffective leadership and governance. However, he urged citizens not to give up hope, saying they had a responsibility to hold leaders accountable and that meaningful change required public participation rather than resignation or despair.

Asogwa said the Labour Party retained faith in Nigerians and in the country’s capacity to overcome its present challenges. His message combined an endorsement of Otti’s record in Abia with an appeal for political leaders to make justice, transparency and citizens’ welfare central to governance.