Chieftains of opposition parties root for Otti’s re-election in 2027
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Impressed by the achievements of Abia State Governor, Dr.Alex Otti of Labour Party, chieftains of various opposition political parties in the state have started rooting for the Governor to be re-elected in 2027.
Early birds who have either endorsed the Governor for second term or expressed optimism that he would be re-elected include Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sir Mark Wabara of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progessives Congress (APGA).
They all passed a verdict of excellent performance by Governor Otti while speaking to the Press after their individual private visits to the Governor.
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, Chairman of E.C.K Foundation, after visiting Governor Otti on December 31, 2024, endorsed him for a second term in office, declaring that there was no vacancy in Abia State Government House, come 2027.
The influential politician and philanthropist from Bende Local Government Area in Abia North senatorial zone, said while addressing the Press: “As an Abia son, I said I must come to greet him. What he is doing in Abia, nobody has done.
“This is the only person I have seen that revived Abia. Today, you yourself can see how Abia looks like,” Chief Kalu said.
Given the positive governance impact Governor Otti was causing in the State, Dr. Kalu said: “Look at what the Governor is doing. Today, we have an airport project that has been flagged off. Let us call a spade, a spade; and do the right thing.
“This man here is God-sent. He is a man that God has brought for Abians to see the goodness of the Lord in this State. And, we are seeing it,”
Dr. Kalu said that it was not about party interests but public interest; putting the people first. “I am a seasoned politician, I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. It is not all about the party, it is all about somebody who has the interest of the masses at heart.
“This is the only Governor that I have seen that has changed Aba. Aba used to be known for dumps of refuse dotting across the city. Today, look at Aba! What are we saying?” Chief Kalu asked rhetorically.
“We need to work with someone who has the interests of Abians in their heart and, that person is nobody, other than Dr. Alex Chioma Otti. He is the man that God has sent to fix Abia and he’s doing it, everybody is seeing it,” he said.
“As far as I am concerned, there is no vacancy in the State House in the next election. This man must finish what he’s doing. He will fix the state, then we move on from there,” he declared.
On his part, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct Hallmark Bank, Sir Mac Wabara, after visiting Governor Otti on January 5, 2025, commended him for his visible achievements, saying that Abians and Nigerians were very impressed with his performance so far.
Wabara, a financial expert, opinion leader, and influential politician from Ukwa East Local Government Area in Abia South senatorial zone of the State, said that his relationship with Governor Otti predates politics, as they have known themselves right from the banking industry.
Speaking with the Press, Sir Wabara said: “First and foremost, let me say that we had a very good relationship in the banking industry. He was a former Chief Executive of a bank like myself, so we have built that relationship.
“Since I’m resident in Lagos and I came home for the Christmas and New Year, it is usually necessary and important that I come and pay him a courtesy visit and also tell him that the people of Abia and the people of Nigeria are very impressed so far with his performance as the Executive Governor of Abia State.”
Chief Wabara said that the Governor has done well in areas of infrastructural development across the State, security and education, among others.
The APC chieftain said that although Governor Otti’s focus for now is finishing his first term and will not want to talk about second term, pointed out the Governor’s achievements were already speaking for him.
He said he was not in doubt that the people would support him for a second term.
“Even if you are to ask His Excellency about second term, he will say that, for now, he wants to finish his first term.”
The finance expert who was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Iyanagbo, added: “Like I said, his job so far speaks for itself and I have no doubt that for the second term, people will support him.”
Igbo fierry and firebrand politician, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Aba South Senatorial District in the Senate, posited that he sees no stumbling block to Governor Otti’s re-election for a second term in office, considering the good works of the Governor across the State.
Senator Abaribe popularly called Nma-Agha Ndigbo (The Sword of the Igbos) also visited the Governor with his wife, on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Baring his mind while speaking with the Press after meeting with the Governor, Senator Abaribe said:
“Even though my party is APGA and his party is Labour, we feel that we have gone beyond party, and we are now at the point of governance.
“So, I came to encourage him, he’s done so well and we wanted to make sure that we continue to inspire him to do much more for the people of Abia.
“Let me say this, I come from Aba; he has done tremendously well in Infrastructure. I have driven around Aba, I have seen everything. All I want to do is to continue to encourage him to continue in the path that he has chosen. We also agreed that we are going to come around to commission some of the projects that he has done in and around my Senatorial Zone.
“I think Second Tenure is still very far away but I do not see any stumbling block on the way if we go by what he has done at this point.”
Senator Abaribe, who is also the Chairman of the South East Senators, said that they spent quite a lot of time discussing issues of governance in the State and what they at the National Assembly could do to help the Governor achieve more for the State.
