Abia APC Denies Alliance With Otti, Labour Party Ahead of 2027

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has denied reports of an alliance involving the party, Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The state APC chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, made the clarification during a stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Umuahia on Monday.

Chukwu said he had consulted key stakeholders within the party and could confirm that no agreement had been reached with Otti or the Labour Party.

He insisted that the APC would not enter into an alliance with the LP, accusing the Otti administration of poor accountability and policies he said had imposed hardship on residents.

“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,” Chukwu said.

The APC chairman also dismissed reports that the party’s governorship candidate, Eric Opah, and other stakeholders had entered into an agreement with the Labour Party.

Chukwu criticised the Otti administration over alleged contract inflation, government spending and other policies. He also questioned the suspension of a lecturer for expressing his views, describing the development as unacceptable.

He warned APC candidates against using the party’s tickets to negotiate with other political parties and urged members to approach the 2027 elections as a united force.

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

According to Chukwu, any future political negotiations by the APC would be guided by its commitment to good governance, accountability and improved welfare for Abia residents.

He expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2027 elections in the state, arguing that members could only benefit from the party when they remained committed to its structures and candidates.

At the stakeholders’ meeting, the party also granted unconditional pardon to members facing disciplinary action, including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the member representing Ukwa Federal Constituency, Chris Nkwonta.

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