2027: Ariaria Traders, Truck Drivers Endorse Otti in Aba

Traders at Ariaria International Market, Aba, and the Active Container and Cargo Truck Drivers, Abia Unit, have pledged to vote for Gov. Alex Otti of Abia in the 2027 governorship election and to protect their votes.

 

The two groups made the pledge on Thursday in Aba at separate solidarity marches held in support of the governor and his administration.

 

The Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Chief Polycarp Nmuojiuba, told newsmen that traders from various Local Government Areas had turned out to show their support for Otti.

 

He said the market was shut for the event so that traders could join the march.

 

According to Nmuojiuba, the traders have endorsed Otti and other Labour Party candidates for the 2027 elections.

 

"We want to show everyone that we are behind him and the traders in Ariaria International Market have endorsed His Excellency, Gov. Alex Otti," he said.

 

He said the traders were impressed by what he described as the developments recorded in Aba and other parts of Abia under the governor, and that the march was organised to acknowledge improvements in road infrastructure, the economy and the health sector, among others.

 

Nmuojiuba said the market had mobilised its members during the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration exercise, setting a target of registering not less than 7,000 new voters, and had encouraged them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

 

He added that obtaining a PVC was only one part of taking part in elections, and that protecting the vote mattered just as much.

 

"If we are able to register up to 7,000 new voters, I am sure we are going to protect our votes because voting is one thing and protecting our votes is another," he said.

 

The Vice Chairman of the market, Mr Ufere Inyama, said the march was held to demonstrate the traders' support for Otti ahead of the election and to show appreciation for what he called the governor's good works.

 

Inyama said the traders had no alternative to Otti as their preferred candidate for the governorship election.

 

The market's Chief Security Officer, Mr Chidiebere Onyeukwu, said that apart from Otti, the traders would also back other Labour Party candidates and would turn out in large numbers to vote for them in the 2027 general elections.

 

He listed Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Onyeocha, Rt. Hon. Emeruwa and Hon. Ucheonye among the candidates he said the traders would support.

 

In a separate march in Aba, the Active Container and Cargo Truck Drivers, Abia Unit, endorsed the governor as its sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

 

The union's Chairman, Mr David Chidozie, said the march was organised to acknowledge what he described as Otti's achievements in improving road infrastructure and other sectors of the state.

 

He said most roads in Aba that were previously in a deplorable condition had been improved, making it easier to move trucks around the city.

 

"We could not move our trucks around without spending four to five hours, but today, the story has changed," he said.

 

Chidozie said the union had mobilised its members to obtain their PVCs during the last voter registration exercise and that they were prepared to take part in the 2027 general elections and exercise their civic rights.

 

He said the association's leadership had introduced rules requiring members to present their PVCs before they could take part in union meetings.

 

Chidozie urged Abia residents to support Otti in the 2027 governorship election, citing the governor's performance as the reason for the union's endorsement.