Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Austin Okezie Meregini, has expressed confidence in securing re-election to represent Umuahia North State Constituency in the 2027 general elections.
Meregini, who currently represents the constituency in the state legislature, said his confidence was based on what he described as his performance and interventions since assuming office.
The Deputy Speaker made the remarks during an interview while discussing his political prospects and the performance of the Labour Party in Abia ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Meregini, his campaign in 2023 was built around a commitment to ensure that constituents received the benefits and opportunities due to them rather than making unrealistic promises.
He said he had since worked to fulfil that commitment through various constituency interventions.
Among the projects he listed were the rebuilding of schools, renovation of healthcare centres, provision of water projects and efforts to address erosion-related challenges within the constituency. He also cited personal interventions and direct engagement with residents as part of his record in office.
Meregini said his confidence in returning to the Assembly was therefore based on the work carried out since his election rather than political calculations.
The lawmaker also spoke about the Labour Party’s prospects in Abia State, arguing that the party could perform strongly in 2027 based on the performance of Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
He maintained that Labour Party’s electoral strength in the state should not be attributed solely to Peter Obi’s popularity during the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, the party had already developed a strong political base in Abia before Obi became its presidential candidate.
Meregini pointed to the 2023 election results, when the Labour Party secured 10 seats in the Abia State House of Assembly, describing the outcome as evidence of the party’s strength within the state.
He acknowledged Obi’s contribution to the party’s performance but argued that Otti’s popularity and previous political campaigns also played a significant role in Labour’s success in the state.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Deputy Speaker predicted that the party would improve on its previous performance, citing what he described as the acceptance of Otti’s administration among Abia residents.
Meregini said the governor’s development programmes and reforms would provide the party with political goodwill going into the next election.
The Deputy Speaker’s comments come as political parties across Abia State begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, with candidates and political groups increasingly highlighting their records and achievements.
His re-election bid is expected to form part of the wider political contest for legislative seats in the state as parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.
For Meregini, however, the ultimate basis for his re-election remains his relationship with constituents and what he describes as measurable results from his first term.
