Twelve political parties have fielded candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship election in Abia State, with incumbent Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) seeking re-election for a second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) displayed the list of governorship and deputy governorship candidates as part of its preparations for the election.
Otti will contest the poll on the LP platform with Ikechukwu Emetu as his running mate.
Candidates in the race
Other governorship candidates listed by INEC include Iroetugo Ndubuisi Ogah of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Kelechi Anosike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Umana Victor Jireh of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Also on the list are Umezurike Doris Uzumma of the African Action Congress (AAC), Uchenna Oleh of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Prince Chibunna Onukwue of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Kelechi Apugo Anthony of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Uba Ekegbara Obasi is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), while Uchechukwu Charles Ijioma will contest under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with Godswill Agu Egbe as his running mate.
George Nwachukwu Ikechukwu was listed as the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
The list also included Ngozi Nathaniel as the deputy governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
INEC preparations
The display of the candidates’ list forms part of INEC’s preparations for the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
With 12 political parties fielding candidates, the election is expected to be a multi-party contest, with Otti seeking to retain the Abia State governorship seat for another four years.
Source: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
