The political tension in Abia State intensified Friday as the ruling party chairman accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of staffing key positions with individuals disconnected from the state, while the governor’s office dismissed the allegation as false and a former lawmaker announced a Senate bid.
Chijioke Chukwu, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, made the claims during an event in Ibere, Ikwuano Local Government Area. Speaking at the venue where former House of Representatives member Sam Onuigbo declared his intention to run for the Abia Central senatorial seat, Chukwu asserted that numerous commissioners and gubernatorial appointees lack familiarity with their communities and cannot identify their polling units. He attributed this to the governor recruiting personnel from Lagos and other distant cities, alleging that long-term residents outside Abia had lost touch with their hometowns.
Chukwu further contended that loyal party operatives who contributed to Governor Otti’s 2023 election victory were sidelined in favor of these external appointments. “When he became governor, he abandoned the people who worked for him, went to Lagos, and brought in people who don’t even know the number of their polling units,” Chukwu stated.
The governor’s administration responded promptly. Dodoh Okafor, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Special Communication, called Chukwu’s assertions “lies and deceit.” Okafor countered that the APC chairman possessed no superior political insight or strategy compared to members of the governor’s team, though he did not address the specific claims about appointees’ local knowledge.
The event’s central focus was Onuigbo’s formal entry into the 2027 Senate race for Abia Central. Currently serving as the South-East representative on the board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Onuigbo urged constituents to resist vote-buying. “Do not sell your votes to moneybags,” he cautioned, framing his declaration as a call for principled engagement in the electoral process.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political friction between Abia State’s executive branch and the state leadership of the opposition APC. Chukwu’s critique touches on perennial issues of indigeneity and reward in political appointments, while Onuigbo’s candidacy sets the stage for another electoral contest in a state where senatorial races often attract significant attention. The governor’s swift denial signals a readiness to counter opposition narratives as political activities intensify toward the next general election cycle.
