By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Aba, Oct. 8, 2026
Traders at Ariaria International Market, Aba, have pledged to protect their votes for Gov. Alex Otti of Abia in the 2027 governorship election.
The traders made the pledge on Thursday during a solidarity march organised in support of the governor and his administration in Aba.
Speaking to newsmen, 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 the traders were impressed by 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 march was organised to acknowledge improvements in road infrastructure, the economy and the health sector.
He said the market was shut to enable traders participate in the march and demonstrate their support for the governor.
Nmuojiuba said the traders had mobilised members during the last Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration exercise, targeting about 7,000 new voters and encouraging them to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He said obtaining 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 it is another,” he said.
Also, the Vice Chairman of the market, Mr Ufere Inyama, said the march was to demonstrate the traders’ support for Otti ahead of the election.
Inyama said 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 also support other Labour Party candidates.
Onyeukwu said the traders would mobilise in their numbers to vote for the party’s candidates during the 2027 general elections.
He listed Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Hon. Alex Ikwechegh, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa and Hon. Stephen Ucheonye among the candidates the traders would support.
The solidarity march was attended by executives and traders of Ariaria International Market.
In a related development, the Active Container and Cargo Truck Drivers, Abia Unit, also endorsed Otti as their sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The Chairman of the union, Mr. David Chidozie, disclosed this during a solidarity march organised by the association in support of the governor in Aba.
Chidozie said the march was organised to acknowledge what he described as Otti’s achievements in road infrastructure and other sectors of the state.
He said many roads in Aba, which were previously in deplorable condition, had been improved, making the movement of trucks easier.
“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.
He said the members were prepared to participate in the 2027 general elections and exercise their civic rights.
The Chairman said the union had introduced measures to encourage members to obtain their PVCs ahead of the elections.
He said the association’s leadership had introduced rules requiring members to show their PVCs before participating 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.
