2027 Elections: South-East Parties Mobilise as APC, LP, PDP, ADC, APGA, NDC Battle for Influence

Political parties across the South-East are stepping up preparations for the 2027 elections, with the APC, Labour Party, PDP, ADC, APGA and NDC activating grassroots structures and mapping out strategies across the region’s five states.

The political contest is already taking shape, although the mood varies from state to state. While parties in Abia, Enugu and Imo are focusing heavily on their records, candidates and grassroots networks, Ebonyi is facing growing concerns over political violence as parties begin positioning themselves for the elections.

In Ebonyi, the APC has called for an issue-based campaign, with state chairman Stanley Okoro Emegha urging political opponents to avoid inflammatory remarks and character attacks. He said the APC would campaign on its record and achievements rather than what he described as political noise, while also warning against allowing external actors to influence the tone of the contest. The Labour Party, meanwhile, said its candidates had already started consulting voters, but its chairman, Henry Ude, expressed concern over attacks linked to political gatherings in parts of the state.

The security concerns have been underscored by a series of reported attacks. Several people were injured and property worth millions of naira was destroyed during an attack on political events in Ikwuato Idembia and Amaezekwe in Ezza South Local Government Area. In Ohaukwu Local Government Area, an elderly man identified as Ubochi Onwe was reportedly killed after attending an APGA political consultation. Days later, Shedrack Onele of Agalegu Ward was attacked after hosting an NDC gathering and was left receiving treatment in hospital. The incidents have heightened tension and prompted calls for greater political tolerance.

The PDP has also declared its readiness for the campaign, with state chairman Chukwuma Igwe calling for a level playing field and accusing the ruling APC of creating an unfavourable environment for opposition activities. The ADC, through its chairperson Jenifer Nwafor, said it was preparing for the elections and called for a free and fair process. The party said some of its senatorial and House of Representatives candidates had already begun campaigning, while awaiting the relevant EC9 forms for governorship and state assembly candidates.

In Abia, the ruling Labour Party is seeking to retain control of the Government House in Umuahia by strengthening its grassroots structures across the state’s 17 local government areas. State chairman Peter Azubuike said the party would improve coordination among its stakeholders, while publicity secretary Emenike Iroegbu attributed the party’s confidence to Governor Alex Otti’s performance and the support it has generated. The APC, however, says it is expanding rapidly across the state and intends to challenge Labour for the governorship as well as the presidential and legislative seats. The PDP is also seeking a return to power, with its governorship candidate, Kelechi Anosike, insisting that the party’s renewed political activity was the product of deliberate planning.

Enugu is shaping up as another major battleground, with the APC placing Governor Peter Mbah’s performance at the centre of its campaign. State publicity secretary Uche Obute said the party would showcase projects across the state’s 260 wards, including smart schools, primary healthcare centres, the International Conference Centre and Enugu Air. He predicted sweeping victories for the APC in 2027 and argued that the administration’s record would make it difficult for opponents to convince voters. The ADC is relying on its grassroots structures, the zoning of its governorship ticket to Enugu North and the appeal of its candidate, Pastor Ozoemena Ojiofor, while the NDC is building its campaign around polling-unit structures and issues including employment, security, education, healthcare and accountability.

The three parties are also drawing lessons from the recent Osun election, particularly the role of technology and the IReV result viewing system. The ADC said it was training its agents to monitor results and electoral materials, while the NDC stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without strong polling-unit organisation. The APC, meanwhile, said it accepted the Osun result and maintained that the central issue in any democratic election should be ensuring that voters’ choices are respected.

In Imo, opposition parties are activating their structures ahead of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. The ADC said it had begun a statewide mobilisation exercise covering all 27 local government areas, while the All Peoples Party also declared its readiness to campaign on issues affecting ordinary residents. APP state leader and Imo East senatorial candidate Chima Matthew Amadi said the party would focus on issues raised by traders, farmers and artisans and would use lawful means to defend its votes. The NDC is similarly preparing for a major grassroots mobilisation drive, with state chairman James Okoroma saying the party would take its campaign into communities across the state.

Across the South-East, the emerging 2027 contest is becoming a battle of political structures, governance records, candidate credibility and grassroots mobilisation. But the reported violence in Ebonyi adds a darker dimension to the early campaign season, raising questions about the ability of political parties and security agencies to guarantee a peaceful contest. With the major parties already positioning themselves, the strength of their organisation—and the credibility of the electoral process—could ultimately determine who converts early political momentum into votes in 2027.