Traders at Ariaria International Market, Aba, and the Active Container and Cargo Truck Drivers, Abia Unit, have pledged to vote and protect their votes for Gov. Alex Otti of Abia in the 2027 governorship election.
The traders and truck drivers made the pledge on Thursday during two separate solidarity marches organised in support of the governor and his administration, in Aba.
Speaking to newsmen during the event, the Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Chief Polycarp Nmuojiuba, said traders from various Local Government Areas had gathered to express their support for Otti.
Nmuojiuba said that the traders were impressed by what he described as developments recorded in Aba and other parts of Abia under the governor.
He said the traders had 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.
Nmuojiuba said the traders organised the solidarity march to acknowledge improvements in road infrastructure, the economy, and the health sector, among others.
He said that the market was shut during the event to enable traders to participate in the march and demonstrate their support for the governor.
Nmuojiuba said traders had mobilised their members during the Independent National Electoral Commission voter registration exercise, with a target of registering at least 7,000 new voters, and encouraged them to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He said that obtaining their PVCs was only one aspect of electoral participation, adding that protecting their votes was equally important.
“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.
Also, the Vice Chairman of the market, Mr Ufere Inyama, said that the solidarity march was to demonstrate the traders’ support for Otti ahead of the election and appreciation for his good works.
Inyama said that the traders had no alternative to Otti as their preferred candidate for the governorship election.
The Chief Security Officer of the market, Mr Chidiebere Onyeukwu, said the traders would, apart from Otti, support other Labour Party candidates.
Onyeukwu said that the traders would mobilise in their numbers to cast their votes for the Labour Party candidates during the 2027 general elections.
He listed Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Onyeocha, Rt. Hon. Emeruwa and Hon. Ucheonye among candidates he said the traders would support.
Also, the Active Container and Cargo Truck Drivers, Abia Unit, had endorsed the governor as its sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The union chairman, Mr David Chidozie, disclosed this during another solidarity march organised by the association in support of the governor in Aba.
Chidozie said that 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, which were previously in deplorable condition, had been improved, making it easier for trucks to move.
“We could not move our trucks around without spending four to five hours, but today, the story has changed,” he said.
Chidozie said that the union had mobilised its members to obtain their PVCs during the last voter registration exercise.
He said that the members were prepared to participate in the 2027 general elections and exercise their civic rights.
He said the association's leadership had introduced rules requiring members to show their PVCs before being allowed to participate in union meetings.
Chidozie called on Abia residents to support Otti in the 2027 governorship election, citing the governor’s performance as the reason for the union’s endorsement.
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