Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that his administration will not be distracted by discussions surrounding the 2027 general elections, stressing that his focus remains on delivering sustainable development to the people of the state.
Otti made the remark on Saturday while attending a worship service with his wife, Priscilla Chidinma, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District Headquarters, Isialangwa South Local Government Area.
“I am not bothered about 2027. The same God who settled 2023 will also settle 2027,” the governor said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to good governance, noting that political attacks from the opposition would not derail his administration.
“No individual or group, no matter who they are, is entitled to distract us. When they make noise, we should not be bothered. We must remain focused and continue to do what is right,” Otti said.
The governor has recently been engaged in a war of words with three former Abia State governors—Orji Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu particularly after Kalu vowed to block Otti’s re-election bid in 2027.
Addressing the growing political rhetoric, Otti said he sometimes wonders whether his critics are referring to the 2027 election or another poll entirely.
“The same way God delivered me in 2023 is the same way He will deliver me in 2027,” he added.
Last week, the state government, through the Governor’s Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, cautioned opposition figures against attempting to pitch Otti against President Bola Tinubu.
Anokwuru said that when former governors and past political office holders, whose records remain fresh in the minds of Abians, gather to challenge Otti’s leadership, the public is entitled to question both their claims and credibility.
He noted that criticism of the administration based solely on the “Renewed Hope” mantra amounted to name-dropping, stressing that the opposition should rely on their own records and achievements rather than invoking President Tinubu’s name.
Speaking on ongoing infrastructure projects, Otti apologised to residents over the inconvenience caused by dust from road construction works across the state.
“We are at the final stages of dualising this road. Although it is a federal road, we obtained approval from the Federal Government to reconstruct and dualise it. We are also working from Onuimo to Tower. The goal is that once you enter Abia State, you will immediately know it,” he said.
Church leaders and members of the Alex Otti Vanguard Movement for Continuity 2027 also expressed support for the governor. Dr. Fineboy Ikechi Joseph, Elder G.C. Ukaegbu, and Elder E.C. Alozie said Otti’s performance across the state justified calls for a second term.
“Governor Otti’s achievements are sufficient to guarantee him another term. His leadership and benevolence have restored hope to the people of Abia,” they said.
In his sermon titled “Living With Eternal Perspective,” Masterguide Chidera Mark, who read from Isaiah 40:28-31, reminded the congregation that God does not grow weary or change.
He noted that Abia State faced numerous challenges before Otti assumed office, adding that the governor’s leadership had brought renewed hope, which, he said, would be sustained through continuity.
The church service ended with prayers for Governor Otti and the Abia State Government.
