Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has cautioned individuals plotting to manipulate the 2027 governorship election results to first “write their wills” before embarking on such a dangerous mission.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the governor emphasized that his statement was not a threat but a caution informed by intelligence reports suggesting that some displaced politicians are boasting about plans to “write” election results in 2027.

“This is not a threat but a warning. If you are planning to write election results in Abia, please write your will first,” Otti declared.

He dismissed remarks attributed to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, noting that power ultimately belongs to God.

“I do not have the anointing to speak about what will happen in 2027 in 2025. But I know that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whom He wants. We should not speak when the Lord has not spoken,” he said.

Governor Otti advised Kalu to focus on his duties at the National Assembly, adding that there was no animosity between them despite the Deputy Speaker’s repeated public criticisms.

“My relationship with the Deputy Speaker didn’t start with politics. This is the second time he has publicly attacked my administration. I forgive him, but I think he suffers from what I call ‘Information Deficiency Syndrome.’”

He further clarified that according to the Protocol Act of 2000, the sixth position in Nigeria’s political hierarchy belongs to the Deputy Senate President, not the Deputy Speaker.

On Governance and Infrastructure

Governor Otti commended the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) for its consistent efforts in maintaining a cleaner environment across Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia.

“We are now moving to the next phase of waste management — recycling and turning waste into wealth,” he said, disclosing ongoing engagements with investors and institutions to actualize the plan.

The governor also announced progress in reviving key moribund industries, including Star Paper Mill, Aba Textile Mill, and Modern Ceramics, through collaborations with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and other stakeholders.

“Government is an enabler. Our goal is to revive these industries, hand them to professionals to run as private entities, and create jobs for our people,” Otti stated.

Education and Health

Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector, revealing that over 5,395 new teachers have been deployed across the state, with plans to recruit an additional 4,000 due to rising enrollment.

He also highlighted improvements in healthcare delivery, including the reconstruction of general hospitals and recruitment of over 774 healthcare professionals, with applicants coming even from other African countries.

“We are building a health system powered by renewable energy to ensure every community has access to quality healthcare,” he said.

Power and Infrastructure Expansion

Governor Otti announced the installation of nearly 8,000 solar-powered streetlights across the state and ongoing projects aimed at achieving steady electricity supply in Aba, Umuahia, Bende, and Ohafia.

“When Aba Power reaches its full capacity of 188 megawatts, excess power will be distributed to Umuahia and other parts of the state. Light brings development, and darkness disappears where there is light,” he said.

He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu’s representative, Senator Dave Umahi, recently commissioned eight newly completed roads in Abia, with more infrastructure projects including the 25km Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road and Ihechiowa Ring Road set to begin soon.

On Defection Rumours

Governor Otti debunked speculations about plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he remains committed to his principles.

“You don’t take decisions simply because others are taking them. We are not people who follow the crowd,” he affirmed.

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Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced plans to relocate the Ministry of Agriculture from its current offices in Umuahia to Umudike, where the Faculty of Agriculture of Abia State University is located.

Otti disclosed the plan on Sept. 23 during an unscheduled visit to the ministry’s headquarters on Bank Road, Umuahia, shortly after swearing in two new commissioners and a special adviser on agriculture.

The governor, accompanied by the commissioners for lands and agriculture, inspected facilities at the premises and expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the buildings. He said the move would provide a more conducive environment to enhance productivity.

Otti added that the state government has also concluded plans to relocate the Faculty of Law from Umuahia back to the university’s permanent site in Uturu.

Ministry staff welcomed the announcement, expressing excitement at the governor’s visit.

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Igbo elders staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday at the Abia State Government House, urging Governor Alex Otti and other South East governors to press for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ahead of a court ruling on his detention.

The group, under the banner of the Igbo Elders Forum, warned that Kanu’s health is deteriorating in custody and accused authorities of denying him adequate medical care.

“We came to register our annoyance and our feelings. Our son is still in detention and is very sick yet they are denying him access to medical care. Why are they negotiating with armed robbers and bandits but still holding him?” spokesperson Emeka Ezebuiro told reporters outside the government house in Umuahia.

The elders said they would extend their appeal to other South East governors, insisting that a united stance could help secure Kanu’s release.

Separately, Igbo Think Tank North America alleged in a letter to Igbo governors and political leaders that a “silent genocide” was underway against Igbo youths, urging protection of communities from killings, invasions and destruction.

A Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to rule on Friday, Sept. 26, on a no-case submission filed by Kanu. The case, originally scheduled for October, was brought forward.

Kanu, arrested in 2021 after jumping bail in 2017, faces charges including terrorism. IPOB has long campaigned for an independent state in southeast Nigeria.

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The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, on Tuesday, September 16th, received in his office, an Abia-born – Nigerian International Football player, Kenneth Omeruo, OON, MON, alongside his friend, the General Manager of the Rangers Football Club of Enugu, Amobi Ezeaku Esq. who paid him a courtesy and working visit.

Gov. Otti thanked Kenneth Omeruo for acknowledging the modest achievements of his administration and assured him of the readiness of the Government to collaborate with him to drive his talent hunt initiative as Abia youths are so talented and endowed in sports, academics, commerce, entrepreneurship, and innovation. He directed the Government team to sit down with Kenneth Omeruo and work out the details.

Earlier in his short address, Kenneth Omeruo informed Governor Otti that he had come to appreciate him for restoring the dignity of Abians. He told the Governor that he is so proud to be from Abia and has been using his social media handles to share and repost the good news from Abia, thanking him for bringing his professional touch to Abia.

Mr. Omeruo used the opportunity to intimate Governor Otti of his desire to give back to society through a talent hunt initiative he wants to launch in Abia State to identify young talented footballers who can be mentored and assisted to get into major clubs, especially in Europe and requested collaboration with the State.

In his vote of thanks, the General Manager of Rangers Football Club of Enugu, Bar. Amobi Ezeaku expressed his joy and excitement about the current quality of leadership with professional backgrounds in most South-East States, saying that he is so proud of the exploits of the Governors.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Chinenye Mba Uzoukwu, the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Charles Egonye and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth, Comrade Onyebuchi Chukwu.

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The Abia State Government has graduated the second batch of trainees from the Abia Leadership Academy, a flagship initiative designed to build a new generation of transformational leaders in the state and across Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, emphasized that the programme was conceived to redirect young people toward positive citizenship and charged participants to embrace continuous learning, mentorship, and influence.

“Leadership is the ability to influence and drive outcomes. What we set out to do is to redirect our people—redirect our young ones, their vision, and their thinking. Gone are the days when youths are left to become thugs or indulge in drugs, cultism, and other vices,” Otti stated.

The Governor explained that the Leadership Academy is tied to his administration’s social reorientation agenda, adding that every graduate will be required to mentor at least one person monthly for the next 12 months. He further disclosed that a digital platform has been created to sustain networking and dialogue among alumni.

Chairman of the Abia Leadership Academy and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, described the vision as one of raising leaders who can create meaningful impact. Also speaking, Pastor Mrs. Eno Jerry-Eze, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, noted that the academy is becoming a youth-driven movement aligned with the Governor’s “New Mind Economy” initiative.

Earlier, Lead Consultant and Programme Director, Mr. Johnson Abali, outlined the training methodology, which included group-based learning and practical sessions. Participants testified to the life-changing nature of the programme, describing it as a blueprint for Abia’s transformation.

The graduation ceremony was attended by parents, senior government officials, and well-wishers.

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