Emetu Ikechukwu Lekwachi

Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu (INEC: EMETU IKECHUKWU LEKWACHI) is the Deputy Governor of Abia State and the Labour Party deputy governorship candidate in Abia, running mate to Governor Alex Otti, for the election of 6 February 2027 (INEC final list, 10 October 2026). INEC lists him as 42, with FSLC, NECO and a Bachelor of Engineering degree. An engineer and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers from Amaekpu in Ohafia LGA, he attended Government College Ketu, Lagos (2001 set) and was, before politics, known in Ohafia for community development and philanthropy. Otti unveiled him in Umuahia on 23 August 2022 as his 38-year-old running mate, saying the choice was meant to give Abia youths a sense of belonging. The Labour Party ticket won the 18 March 2023 governorship election with 175,467 votes against the PDP's 88,529; he received his certificate of return on 29 March 2023 and was sworn in with Otti on 29 May 2023. As deputy governor he has handled boundary and community disputes, chaired the committee drafting the state's 2024 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan, and in 2026 chaired the Labour Party's national committee on membership revalidation and e-registration. INEC's display of candidates in September 2026 confirmed him as Otti's running mate for 2027. Three public allegations have been denied through his press secretary: in November 2024 the Abia House of Assembly condemned the arrest of the Ohafia South lawmaker Kalu Mba Nwoke during the local government election, which the lawmaker blamed on the deputy governor; his office said the arrest was lawful and not ordered by him. In January 2026 he denied social-media claims linking him to a killing during a chieftaincy crisis in Okon-Aku, Ohafia, and welcomed an independent investigation. In September 2026 he denied a Tinubu Support Group claim that he had armed youths against the President's supporters and asked the police to invite the accuser to substantiate it. No charge or court case naming him was found.