BREAKING: Usman Endorses Alex Otti, Declares Him Labour Party’s Model Leader

Senator Nenadi Usman, Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, has lavished praise on Abia State Governor Alex Otti, describing him as the living embodiment of the Labour Party’s foundational ideology and its most visible and effective ambassador in elected office — a standard, she said, she wants replicated across Nigeria as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a comprehensive interview with Arise News following the Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision affirming his leadership, Senator Usman turned from questions of legal battles and internal divisions to articulate a forward-looking vision for what Labour Party governance should look like in practice.

“Alex Oti, Governor Alex Otti — he is what I would say the ambassador of the Labour Party,” Senator Usman declared. “He’s the only governor we have and he’s doing very well.” The commendation was specific and ideologically grounded. Usman pointed to Governor Otti’s governance record as a demonstration of the party’s core commitments to equal opportunity and social justice — the twin pillars, she emphasised, upon which the Labour Party was originally established and around which it must once again organise its public identity.

For Senator Usman, Governor Otti’s work in Abia State is not merely a political success story — it is a proof of concept. It demonstrates to Nigerians, particularly those who have grown cynical about the capacity of opposition parties to govern responsibly, that Labour Party’s promises are not rhetorical. Where the party has been entrusted with executive power, he argued, it has delivered governance aligned with the interests of ordinary Nigerians.

This framing had clear strategic intent. Senator Usman used the discussion of Governor Otti to issue a broader call to action — addressed not just to politicians but to activists, trade unionists, and civic advocates who have historically channelled their energies into protest and advocacy rather than electoral participation.

“If you think you are an activist and have something to offer Nigeria, come contest elections,” she said. “You cannot change from outside.” The appeal was an extension of Labour Party’s foundational identity as a party rooted in organised labour and civil society — and an acknowledgment that the party’s political strength is directly tied to the quality and conviction of the candidates it fields.

Senator Usman made clear that as the party moves toward its national convention and subsequently toward the 2027 electoral cycle, attracting high-calibre candidates who share Governor Otti’s commitment to the party’s ideology will be among his central preoccupations.