The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini, has expressed strong confidence in securing re-election in the 2027 general elections, saying his record of performance and delivery to constituents will be the major factor determining his victory.
Meregini, who represents Umuahia North State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, made the declaration while speaking during an interview in which he also discussed the prospects of the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Deputy Speaker said his confidence is based primarily on what he described as his achievements since assuming office, rather than on political influence or any other advantage.
“Without sounding immodest, I am very confident I am going to win the election, and it is not because of any other factor other than what we have done so far,” he said.
Meregini Highlights Constituency Projects
Reflecting on his 2023 campaign, Meregini said he deliberately avoided making unrealistic promises to voters.
According to him, his commitment was simply to ensure that whatever was legitimately due to his constituents would be delivered.
He said that promise has been fulfilled through various interventions across Umuahia North State Constituency.
“During my 2023 campaign, I assured my constituents that I wasn’t going to promise them heaven and earth or that I was going to bring down the moon,” he said.
He explained that his pledge was to ensure that the interests of his constituents received attention and that projects and interventions meant for the constituency were delivered.
Among the projects he highlighted were the rebuilding of schools, renovation of health centres, provision of water projects and efforts to control erosion.
He also pointed to personal interventions and direct engagement with constituents as part of his efforts to remain connected with the people he represents.
‘The Election Will Be Comfortable’
Despite acknowledging that he has political opponents, Meregini said he is not taking the 2027 election for granted.
He maintained that his camp would continue working to secure victory while relying on his record in office to convince voters.
“I have opponents, but the election is going to be a very comfortable one for us, even though we are not leaving any stone unturned. We are very confident more than ever,” he said.
The statement reflects the Deputy Speaker’s belief that his constituency record could give him an advantage as political parties and candidates begin preparations for the next election cycle.
Meregini Addresses Rumours and Allegations
The Abia lawmaker also addressed allegations and rumours that circulated about him earlier in the year.
According to Meregini, what he described as a “very huge falsehood” was circulated about him, prompting him to take steps to establish the facts and protect his reputation.
He said the matter became serious enough for him to petition the authorities at Zone 9, apparently seeking action over the dissemination of the alleged false information.
“There was a very huge falsehood that trended against my person. The person who started the rumor could not authenticate it,” Meregini said.
He further claimed that when the person who allegedly disseminated the rumour was contacted, the individual could not substantiate the allegation.
Meregini said he was prepared to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, adding that the individual eventually apologised.
“When they called the person that disseminated the rumor, he started shying away from it because I was prepared to pursue that case to its logical conclusion,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker described such incidents as part of the challenges associated with public service and political participation.
He said public officials have a responsibility to respond to misinformation when necessary so that members of the public are not left with a false impression.
“As people at the frontier of politics, these things happen every now and then. As a public servant, I am under obligation to clear the air so that people will know,” he added.
Focus Shifts to 2027 Campaign
With the 2027 elections approaching, Meregini said political activities would soon intensify, including campaigns highlighting the achievements of the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti as well as his own record as a legislator.
He expressed confidence that the achievements of the administration and those of his office would form a major part of the campaign message ahead of the election.
Meregini also linked his political prospects to the wider fortunes of the Labour Party in Abia, expressing optimism that the party would maintain its strong position in the state in 2027.
According to him, the forthcoming campaigns will provide an opportunity to remind voters of projects and programmes implemented by the Otti administration and constituency-level interventions undertaken by elected representatives.
Labour Party’s 2027 Prospects
The Deputy Speaker’s comments come as political parties in Abia and across Nigeria begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abia remains an important political stronghold for the Labour Party, particularly following the party’s success in the 2023 elections and the emergence of Governor Alex Otti.
Meregini expressed confidence that the party would perform strongly in the state and described the 2027 election as virtually settled in favour of himself and the Labour Party.
He said the combination of the administration’s achievements and his own constituency performance would give voters reasons to support the party and its candidates.
‘2027 Will Be a Done Deal’
Meregini ultimately expressed confidence that the coming election would end positively for both his personal re-election bid and the Labour Party in Abia.
He said the forthcoming campaign would focus on presenting the achievements of the Otti administration and his office to the electorate.
For Umuahia North State Constituency, the 2027 contest will therefore provide a direct test of Meregini’s claim that his performance has earned him sufficient support for a second term.
While the Deputy Speaker remains confident of victory, the eventual outcome will be determined by voters when they go to the polls in 2027.
