Abia State Governor Alex Otti has emerged as the Labour Party’s consensus governorship candidate following the party’s primary election held across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that candidates seeking election into the Abia State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate also emerged through a consensus arrangement endorsed by party delegates.

Delegates from political wards across the state overwhelmingly backed the consensus candidates during the primary elections conducted by the party.

Announcing the results on Saturday in Umuahia, the Returning Officer for the Labour Party primaries in Abia, Mrs. Oluchi Opara, said the exercise was conducted through direct primaries across all political wards in the state.

Opara, who also serves as Chairman of the party’s Electoral Committee, stated that the exercise complied substantially with the provisions of the Labour Party Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the party’s 2026 Electoral Guidelines.

She explained that after voting concluded and results were collated from the various local government areas, the committee compiled and authenticated the final outcome in line with established party procedures and electoral laws.

Speaking at the event, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Chief Acho Obioma, described the exercise as successful, noting that party members participated actively across the state.

According to him, the primary election was peaceful and orderly, with no incidents recorded throughout the process. He commended party members for their conduct and praised electoral officials for carrying out their duties effectively at the ward level.

Obioma said the successful completion of the primaries marked the beginning of a new phase of political engagement and expansion for the party. He also expressed satisfaction with the transparency and peaceful nature of the exercise.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Otti commended the electoral and primary election committees for conducting what he described as a credible and peaceful exercise across Abia.

The governor noted that no adverse reports were received from any part of the state, adding that the process was transparent and orderly. He also acknowledged the role played by observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of various monitoring teams.

Otti congratulated all candidates who emerged from the primaries and formally accepted his nomination as the party’s governorship candidate.

He said the successful conduct of the primaries reflected the Labour Party’s ability to manage its internal affairs without conflict or violence. According to him, the peaceful outcome was made possible by party leaders who worked in the weeks leading up to the exercise to resolve disagreements and build consensus among stakeholders.

The governor urged the candidates to view their emergence not as the conclusion of the political process but as the beginning of the task of engaging voters ahead of the general election.

He encouraged them to reach beyond the party’s traditional support base and connect with undecided voters, stressing the importance of convincing more people to support Labour Party candidates during the elections.

Otti expressed confidence in the party’s chances at the polls, saying the level of participation recorded during the primaries demonstrated increasing grassroots support and enthusiasm among members across the state.

Candidates who emerged for the State House of Assembly include Boniface Isienyi (Ikwuano), Chinedu Okorie (Bende South), Uchenna Okoro (Arochukwu), Nnamdi Ibekwe (Bende North), Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu (Isiala Ngwa North), Roland Chinwendu (Isiala Ngwa South), Lucky Nweke (Isiukwato), Victoria Onwubiko (Obingwa West), Kalu Nwoke (Ohafia South), Kelechi Ebere (Obingwa East), and Mkpa Uka (Ohafia North).

Others are Iheanacho Nwogu (Osisioma North), Fyne Ahuama (Osisioma South), Chijioke Uruakpa (Ugwunagbo), Louis Obiani (Ukwa East), Chiemeka Akukanna (Ukwa West), Chinasa Anthony (Umuahia Central), Augustine Mmerigini (Umuahia East), Kelechi Akaliro (Umuahia North), Emeka Obioma (Umuahia South), and Marthias Ume (Umunneochi), who collectively secured 16,002 votes.

Also nominated were Stephen Ucheonye (Aba Central), Ijeoma Ehuchie (Aba North), and Emmanuel Emeruwa (Aba South).

For the House of Representatives, the candidates are Alex Ikwecheghe (Aba North/Aba South), Aguocha Obinna (Ikwuano/Umuahia), Chief Okwara Osonwa (Arochukwu/Ohafia), Chief Ginger Onwusibe (Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South), Amaobi Ogah (Isiukwuato/Umunneochi), Wambu Chiemela (Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo), Choma Anyaso (Bende), and Adinigwe Ugochukwu (Ukwa East/Ukwa West).

The party’s senatorial candidates are Senator Darlington Nwokocha for Abia Central, David Ogba for Abia North, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for Abia South.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of return to Governor Otti and other candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries.