A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency under the Labour Party, Honourable Obi Aguocha has said the political landscape in Abia State has evolved beyond the influence of LP 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that Governor Alex Otti’s performance in office and the growing strength of the LP have changed the game ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Now, the Labour Party that was found in 2023 is different from the Labour Party that we’re going to go into the 2027 election. But as far as Abia is concerned today, those dynamics that worked in 2023 may not work again in 2027 because Alex Otti himself has also become a brand. For the first time, Abians have seen demonstrable good governance—exceptional governance—being put in place: transparency and accountability in the policies and procedures that he’s been able to put in place. So, for the first time, Abians have something they can relate with, something they can see other than Peter Obi,” he said.
Speaking on the LP’s presidential plans for 2027, Aguocha said it was still too early to determine whether the party would field a candidate, noting that the process for the purchase of nomination forms was yet to begin.
“I don’t know for now because in the next few days, Labour Party will release the purchase of forms. So, until when people begin to show up to obtain the forms for various positions, then we will know whether we’re going to have a presidential candidate or not. Our primaries are still a bit—two, three weeks far away. So when that time comes, I think it will be manifest who are those interested in running for president,” he shared.
Aguocha acknowledged the shifting political alliances ahead of 2027, expressing disappointment that opposition figures who initially converged under the ADC were unable to remain united.
“I would have wished that when they all went into ADC as a political family, that they would have found the common space to accommodate each other. But unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” he lamented.
Adding, he argued that the movement of key politicians across different parties could weaken the opposition’s collective strength ahead of the general election.
“And moving about to different political platforms now—I think Atiku is in the ADC, Obi is in the NDC, and many others may be moving around—as a joint body of opposition, I think they will be more disadvantaged now than staying together,” he said.
The lawmaker also revealed that the LP was not part of the opposition meeting reportedly held in Ibadan, explaining that party leaders were occupied with their National Congress in Umuahia at the time.
“We were not invited to that. We were busy doing our National Congress in Umuahia. So we were not part of that meeting in Ibadan,” he underscored.
Despite the growing realignments, Aguocha warned the ruling APC against underestimating what he described as a rising groundswell of opposition across the country.
“But going back to what I was saying is that nobody should underestimate the groundswell of opposition still rising. I think the APC should not underestimate that groundswell. So that they should also do whatever it takes to get their house in order because the general election is not going to be as I said, it’s not going to be like the 2023 election. A lot of things may happen when the election comes around. So, but for me, I feel that the opposition should have stayed firm where they were to accommodate one another,” he maintained.
Aguocha blamed the opposition’s fragmentation on its inability to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If you had all the major actors that were in 2023, one would have thought they would have learned something from 2023 to change some of the ways that they will approach the 2027 general election.”
According to him, major opposition figures should have learned from the outcome of the 2023 polls and made the necessary sacrifices to rally around one candidate capable of leading a stronger challenge against the ruling APC.
“If they felt as leaders of the various parties that came together to form the opposition and to accommodate or to make sacrifice for one another to ensure that one person amongst them emerges as the president—after all, even if elections are held, there would be one winner. So, I would have thought they would have gone a bit further to ensure that at least one person emerged. But since they are not able to do that—that was why I said by fragmenting themselves, they diminish their opportunities to challenge the incumbent president,” he noted.
Aguocha dismissed the possibility of a renewed opposition alliance ahead of 2027, arguing that the major political blocs and their supporters had already moved on in different directions.
“I don’t think so. I think we’ve passed that. The ‘Obidients’ have moved on, and Kwankwasiyya has moved on with Obi and Kwankwaso. And those staying with Atiku are comfortable where they are,” he explained.
Reacting to criticism from the ADC that defectors were driven by personalities rather than principles, Aguocha said the party should not dismiss the influence and political strength of leaders like Obi and Kwankwaso after previously welcoming them.
“The ADC, should not also underestimate the resolve of those who have left with His Excellency Peter Obi or His Excellency Rabiu Kwankwaso.”
But he acknowledged that Nigerian politics remains heavily personality-driven because many political parties lack clear ideological foundations.
“It may be good for democracy that people are moving not just the personality of the leadership of say, now, NDC or ADC or APC. So, the democracy in Nigeria needs to move away from personalities and now begin to talk about the ideology of the political parties. Unfortunately, most political parties don’t have any ideology. So we continue to fester,” he advised.
The Labour Party lawmaker insisted that his party remains rooted in a defined ideology centred on social justice, equality and fairness.
“We believe in social justice, equality, fairness, and we have a vision! We have a vision that stems from our ideology, which says, you know, equal justice for all. We say as well that our concern is the working man and woman in Nigeria who go to bed hungry every single night. We have an ideology that believes that the country should be doing better than what it is doing in the areas of insecurity, and in education,” he highlighted.
Rejecting suggestions that Atiku Abubakar has become isolated within the opposition, Aguocha argued that the former vice president still commands substantial electoral support, pointing to the vote totals recorded in the 2023 presidential election for Atiku.
“I think Atiku Abubakar had close to about 7.5 million votes in the last election, so he still has a large followership,” he insisted.
Speaking on the Obi–Kwankwaso alignment, the lawmaker said it should, in theory, strengthen the opposition’s chances ahead of the 2027 elections, as many Nigerians are still looking for a united and credible force capable of challenging the ruling party.
“It should. A lot of people are looking for a formidable force that can challenge the ruling party.”
However, for the LP, he noted that strategic alignment remains uncertain for now, stressing that the party’s immediate focus is on its internal primaries and decision-making processes.
“We are in the opposition; we haven’t joined the coalition. In the National Assembly, I am a member of the opposition from a minority party. It’s not the end of the road. The Labour Party might still join some kind of alliance going forward. Until we know and demonstrate in our primaries who is going to be our presidential candidate, then we can know whether we’re going to join whatever is happening at the national stage,” he maintained.
Aguocha further reiterated his support for Governor Alex Otti, describing him as the clear gubernatorial choice in Abia due to his record of governance.
“But I know who’s going to be my gubernatorial candidate: Dr. Alex Otti, who has demonstrated good governance in Abia State. If we decide to have a presidential candidate tomorrow, our leader, Dr. Alex Otti, will be the one who will call us and say, ‘This is the direction we need to go’. Whether we stay with the coalition of opposition or focus on Abia State, that’s what we’ll have to do,” he said.
Aguocha acknowledged that the ongoing fragmentation within the opposition could give the incumbent president an advantage, expressing regret that the various political actors were unable to unite and make mutual sacrifices in the interest of a stronger front.
“I’ve said before that them coming apart may give an undue advantage to the incumbent. I wish for them to have come together and made sacrifices for each other. For the interest and betterment of Nigeria. Since they aren’t able to do that, one can see where the incumbent president may have an advantage. At the same time, the groundswell of opposition now is far greater than it was in 2023,” he reiterated.
Speaking on the “Obidient” movement, Aguocha said it remains closely tied to the ideals and influence of Peter Obi, adding that its direction would naturally follow wherever Obi himself chooses to align politically.
“The Obidient movement is tied solely to the idea and the ideals of His Excellency Peter Obi. Simple. If Peter Obi has found a home somewhere, I’m sure they will also find a home.”
Responding to concerns about frequent party switching in Nigerian politics, he dismissed the idea that it is unusual or negative, noting that many politicians have moved across parties over time.
“There’s no politician in Nigeria that hasn’t moved from one political party to another. It’s good for democracy. The vibrancy that we’re feeling, even what is happening in the current PDP, is good for all participants in the political space. I hope that they would have learned something from the 2023 experience to help shape the direction for 2027,” he said.
On whether the LP would garner momentum in the coming elections, Aguocha expressed confidence that the LP could replicate and even build on the momentum it achieved in 2023, pointing to Governor Alex Otti’s performance in Abia State as a key example of the party’s credibility in governance.
“We have a performing governor in Abia State. There are a lot of aspirants all over the country who want to be like Alex Otti. Alex Otti is the brand and the model that people are now using as a yardstick for good governance, accountability, and making things work. Abia State is working.”
According to him, the developments in Abia have demonstrated to citizens that good governance is achievable when public resources are properly managed,
“Now the citizens of Abia State are seeing that it is doable to have somebody come in and use the resources of the state to uplift the wellbeing and welfare of the people. I’m sure their decision to re-elect us is very plausible and will come to pass,” he concluded.
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