A factional leader of Nigeria’s main opposition party has publicly commended the governor of Abia State, saying his administration has fundamentally changed infrastructure development in the southeastern state within three years. The statement was made by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who identifies as the factional Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke during the 2026 annual conference of his “Follow Better Organisation” in Arochukwu, Abia North Senatorial District.
Ohuabunwa, who also serves as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, urged Governor Alex Otti to stay focused on his “New Abia transformation agenda” and ignore opposition tactics he claimed had historically hindered the state’s progress. He stated that the large turnout at the conference was clear evidence of popular support for both Otti’s developmental efforts and President Bola Tinubu’s federal administration.
“The massive turnout…has further demonstrated their love and support for the developmental strides of Governor Alex Otti and President Bola Tinubu,” Ohuabunwa said. He added that members of his organisation and the PDP “are not blind to the fact that the present governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, is doing well, especially in infrastructure. That is the truth.”
Several local leaders from across Abia North, including Okafor Okoroafia, Chief Ukpai Ukiro, and Eze Wilson Egbo, used the platform to thank President Tinubu for Ohuabunwa’s university appointment and pledged their continued support for both the federal and state governments. The organisation’s Director-General, Ndubuisi Eke, and organising committee Chairman, Sir Owo Eleke, said the conference aimed to reaffirm loyalty to Ohuabunwa, describing him as a major political figure committed to regional growth.
The gathering highlights a significant political alignment, with a prominent PDP figure openly endorsing a governor from the Labour Party and aligning with the federal APC government. Ohuabunwa’s praise for infrastructure development points to a potential shift in local political narrative, moving past Abia State’s legacy of infrastructural neglect. His call for the governor to persevere against opposition suggests ongoing political tensions. The event reinforces a growing, if complex, coalition of support for Governor Otti’s agenda, blending state-level development advocacy with national political allegiances. The Follow Better Organisation’s reaffirmation of its leadership structure indicates a consolidation of a key political faction ahead of future electoral cycles.
