Political tensions are escalating in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition leaders, including former governors, determined to prevent Governor Alex Otti’s re-election. The opposition figures, who have held power in the state in the past, have been holding meetings and issuing public statements against Otti’s administration.
Recently, two former governors, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, announced the formation of an alliance to unseat Otti in 2027. The group, dubbed “The Team,” aims to win all elective positions in Abia State for the All Progressives Congress (APC). They have also threatened to take legal action against Otti for allegedly governing the state from his country home instead of the Government House in Umuahia.
Kalu, a senator representing Abia North, has accused Otti of underperforming, claiming that the governor has only repainted roads built during his tenure as governor. Kalu stated that he will not support Otti’s re-election bid in 2027, despite delivering votes for him in the 2023 gubernatorial election.
In response, an aide to Governor Otti, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, described the opposition’s efforts as “chasing shadows.” Anokwuru argued that the former governors are trying to return to power by riding on President Bola Tinubu’s influence, rather than relying on their own legacies.
Analysts believe that the opposition’s criticism of Otti is driven by self-interest, particularly the protection of entrenched political and economic interests. The abolition of payment of salaries and allowances to former governors and their deputies in Abia State has been cited as a possible reason for their opposition.
Despite the criticism, Governor Otti’s performance has been acknowledged by residents of Abia State, who have seen improvements in infrastructure and governance. The president of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, Olu Omotayo, noted that genuine development does not require constant government propaganda, and that the people are the best judges of a government’s performance.
As the political landscape in Abia State continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the opposition’s efforts will gain traction or if Governor Otti’s performance will ultimately decide his fate in the 2027 election.
