Abia State is experiencing increasing political unrest ahead of the 2027 general election, with some opposition leaders determined to prevent Governor Alex Otti from winning reelection.
Otti’s reelection for a second term as governor in 2027 has been threatened by opposition leaders, many of whom were once in positions of authority in the state.
Additionally, these individuals have been publicly criticizing Otti’s administration and hosting political gatherings.
Recall that two former Abia State governors, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, along with other former political figures, said last week that they had formed an alliance to remove Governor Otti from office in the 2027 general election.
They claim that they want to win every elective seat in Abia for the All Progressives Congress, or APC.
After meeting in Umuahia, the two decided to create “The Team,” a vehicle for their political struggle against Otti and other anti-APC forces.
The organization further hinted that it will file a lawsuit against Otti for purportedly operating Abia from his country residence in Nvosi rather than the Government House in Umuahia.
According to Kalu, the assembly serves as a forum for seasoned leaders seeking to regain their significance in the political climate of the state.
The senator from Abia North insisted that the legacy of past governments continue, rejecting narratives that depicted them as ineffectual.
“Leadership is a relay,” stated the former governor of Abia. I gave it to Senator T.A. Orji, who gave it to Okezie Ikpeazu. Nobody can say that we didn’t do anything. Where would our people be now if we did nothing?
Kalu: “Otti hasn’t improved; he’s repainting roads.”
Senator Kalu recently criticized Governor Otti of doing little with the money the state receives from the federal government while speaking to reporters.
He asserted that the governor was just repainting roads that Kalu had constructed while serving as the state’s governor.
Despite having earned Otti’s support in the most recent gubernatorial race in 2023, Kalu declared he would not work for Ottis’ reelection in 2027.
“I think of the Governor as my friend,” he declared. And throughout the past two years, I have never offered criticism. They fired the first volley, and I remained silent. In response, I told them that I would help the APC win.
“We worked hard for him to win in 2023. That is not going to happen again. What’s wrong with that? Does that mean I should be insulted? I find it unacceptable. For my celebration, I’m going to work.
“I’m not sure if he has performed better because the records show what I accomplished in my two years as governor. I received the same amount of money in eight years as Otti does in four months. That’s the reality.
He is simply restoring and repainting the roads that I constructed between 1999 and 2007 while serving as governor. I haven’t noticed any new, significant highways being built.
“All of the roads I build in communities while serving in the Senate are brand-new farmland roads.”
Otti’s assistant: Opposition chasing shadows
Governor Alex Otti’s assistant, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, stated that the opposition’s plan to remove the governor in 2027 is like chasing ghosts.
This was recently said by Anokwuru, the Governor’s Special Advisor on Policies and Interventions, at a press conference in the state capital of Umuahia.
He was responding to the senior opposition chieftains’ barrage of media insults and complaints directed at the governor.
“Abia Opposition: Stop Tinubu Name-Dropping and Face the Fact!” was the title of his address.
He claimed that it was ludicrous for the former political leaders who were accused of destroying and underdeveloping the state to believe that they would retake power thanks to President Bola Tinubu’s might.
Instead of mentioning the contributions they made as governors, he made fun of them for ignoring the president’s name and relying on his accomplishments.
“It is a long-standing principle in both law and public life that anyone who demands equity must come with clean hands,” he stated.
“Given the current political situation in Abia State, this principle is especially pertinent.
“The public is entitled to question not only their claims but also their credibility when former executive governors and former political office holders, whose administrations are still fresh in the collective memory of the people, gather to challenge the current administration of Alex Otti,” he stated.
They are banding together to oppose Otti, the analyst
Speaking about the issue, Nduka Odo, a public affairs analyst and communication specialist at Peaceland University in Enugu, stated that the protection of deeply ingrained political and economic interests is a major factor in the mounting opposition from previous governors to Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
The past governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu share a long-standing political lineage that facilitated a peaceful transition of power from one administration to another, according to an interview with Odo, who called the development expected.
He claimed that Otti’s rise represented a break from that trend because he took office without the support of his predecessor.
Odo contended that the alliance of previous governors against Otti is more motivated by personal interests endangered by the actions of the current administration than by party politics or the benefit of the Abia people.
He emphasized that under Otti, Abia became one of the few states to stop paying past governors and their deputies salary and benefits, which are still provided to former governors in many other states.
“What’s happening in Abia state is not unexpected,” stated Odo. The former governors who have promised to remove the current governor are not to blame. They are defending their own interests. Furthermore, you cannot criticize a man for defending his means of subsistence. Ikpeazu, Orji, and Kalu were all descended from the same family. The transition from one to the other was seamless. In contrast, Otti rose to prominence without the backing of his predecessor.
Why are the past governors banding together to oppose Otti? The solution is straightforward. They can claim that it serves the APC’s interests. They can claim that it’s for the Abia people.
To find the solution, let’s go back a little in time. Abia is one of the few states in Nigeria to stop paying past governors and their deputies salary and benefits under Alex Otti.
This meant that all past governors and their deputies receive the same pay and benefits as current CEOs in the majority of states.
“Isn’t this sufficient justification for them to band together to oppose him? They may claim that he merely paints highways. However, the Abia people are the best group to respond to that query.
Thus, I’m pleased with what’s taking place in Abia. I assure you that a state’s progress will be negatively impacted if all of its politicians collaborate.
This assault on the incumbent by the former leaders will serve as a reminder to Otti that he still has more work to do. He must keep addressing the needs of his people if he hopes to keep their support.
The CRRAN President said that criticism from former governors is meaningless.
In a same vein, Olu Omotayo, President of the Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network, or CRRAN, stated that despite criticism from previous governors, Abia State Governor Alex Otti is bringing about noticeable progress that the people can see.
Omotayo made this claim in a discussion, claiming that previous administrations in numerous South-East states ruled for themselves rather than the people, which led to severe underdevelopment throughout the region.
He emphasizes that individuals should witness to initiatives that directly impact their lives and that true growth does not require ongoing government advertising.
Residents of Abia State have publicly acknowledged gains in governance and infrastructure under Otti’s government, according to Omotayo, who called this the real gauge of success.
The head of CRRAN brushed off criticism from former governors, claiming that Otti’s accomplishments clearly outperform their years in office.
However, Omotayo warned that pervasive poverty might still affect election results and voiced concern about how the country’s economic difficulties might affect voters’ behavior.
“In the past, the people who have governed most of the southeast states believed that the government is for them but not for the people,” he stated. This is due to the lack of development in the majority of the states in the Southeast.
“You don’t need government officials to tell you that development is happening. “We’re doing this, we’re doing that.”
“This governor is acting in this way because of the people who will be speaking.” He is working on the road. The road to my community has been completed. This is what they have done.
“You can see that people are pointing out that Alex Ottis’ government has done this and that. It suggests that there is progress. We’re not discussing parties. Are people benefiting from democracy?
“The party is not what we are discussing. Does the man have a job? People are responding, “Yes, he has done this.” That’s what he did. That’s how we gauge the quality of our governance.
The man is doing a great job over there. He is making investments in numerous unfinished projects in that state. It’s more than simply the governor’s supporters’ rhetoric.
“It doesn’t matter what the previous governors in that state say.
“When you compare what they did in the past with what Otti is doing, you can see that he has accomplished more than those who are banding together against him did throughout their more than 16 years in that state.
“Everyone is observing that. To spread the word that the governor has done this or that, you don’t need any commissioners or state officials. They are the ones who claim that this man has performed admirably.
The only issue is that poverty has been weaponized due to the nation’s economic situation. People have very little economic power.
“I observe that people are grateful when a government is performing well. The only issue is that, given their low level, they might sell their vote if they get money during the election, he continued.
Rights Group Convener: They’re acting selfishly.
Onyebuchi Igboke, the Convener of the Office of the Citizens and Project Manager of the Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance, questioned the reasons behind the opposition to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, characterizing it as a conflict between patronage politics and performance-driven governance.
According to Igboke, loyalty and mediocrity are frequently rewarded in Nigerian politics rather than quantifiable achievement.
He claims that Otti is a blatant break from that custom, emphasizing that the governor’s accomplishments are noticeable and recognized outside of Abia State.
Igboke went on to say that Otti had accomplished more in just over two years than former governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Theodore Orji, and Orji Uzor Kalu did in their combined 24 years in office.
The proponent of good governance added that some of the former governors’ activities might have been driven by personal objectives, such as the desire for appointments, political importance, and financial gains at the federal level.
Igboke insisted that Otti’s record in office is still his best defense and that attempts to intimidate or undermine the current governor would fail.
“I think any right-thinking person will start to wonder if we are celebrating performance or mediocrity,” he stated. Is Nigerian politics built on patronage and eye service, or is it based on performance?
“These two dimensions are distinct. Because, in my opinion, Alex Otti stands for performance, even those who do not reside in Abia State can attest to the outstanding work that the governor is doing.
“The public is pleased with him.” You can see his projects. Orji Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu’s 24 years are surpassed by his performance in less than two years.
“I’m not sure what performance metric or moral foundation they are utilizing to have such boldness.
Some individuals believe that President Bola Tinubu is only giving them appointments and financial benefits.
“Deep down, they are aware of what they are doing. Their goal is self-serving.
It was only lately that Orji Kalu selected his daughter to be an ambassador. We also know that he has been accused of corruption, and some believe that this is the only way he can provide eye care.
“Anyone who tries to employ intimidation or anything else is wasting his time. That’s it.43
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
