In a Democracy Day message released on June 12, 2026, Hon. Ceekay Igara, governorship candidate for Abia State under the Abure faction and popularly known as “The David of Abia,” called on Nigerians and indigenes of Abia State to embrace a spirit of optimism, accountability, and spiritual renewal.
Igara, formerly the Labour Party’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East and a former state chairman of the party in Abia, was adopted as the Abia State governorship candidate of the Abure-led Labour Party faction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He has remained a vocal loyalist of national chairman Julius Abure amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the Labour Party, a dispute that has also put him at odds with Abia State Governor Alex Otti over control of the party’s structures in the state.
Reflecting on the 27th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, Igara described June 12 as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring belief that the voice of the people must prevail.
He emphasized that democracy must go beyond elections, stressing that it should deliver hope, create opportunities, and protect the vulnerable while ensuring every vote counts.
With another political season approaching, Igara urged institutions to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, warning against manipulated mandates and calling instead for transparency and purposeful leadership.
Turning his attention to Ndi Abia, Igara delivered what he described as a special message of hope, declaring that beyond physical infrastructure and economic development, Abia State requires a deeper restoration rooted in righteousness, integrity, and godly values.
He expressed his belief that his generation carries a divine responsibility to restore the dignity and purpose of “God’s Own State.”
Painting a vision for the future, Igara said he foresees an Abia where merit triumphs over favoritism, where youths can dream again, and where the state becomes a model for the South-East and Nigeria as a whole.
He concluded his message on a note of encouragement, urging every son, daughter, family, and community in Abia to believe again, asserting that the state’s story is entering “a new season of restoration, prosperity, and greatness.”
Igara signed off with the declaration: “The restoration is here. The future is bright. The best is yet to come.”
The Democracy Day message reads in brief:
“Twenty-seven years ago, Nigeria broke the chains of military dictatorship and reclaimed her democratic destiny. Beyond roads and infrastructure, Abia needs a deeper restoration the rebuilding of our values alongside our economy, the return of godly principles alongside prosperity. The restoration is here. The future is bright. The best is yet to come.”