Former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will field a candidate to challenge Alex Otti in the 2027 governorship election, provided the party is sufficiently strong.
Ikpeazu made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television on the sidelines of the PDP’s 2026 National Convention at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
When asked to assess the current administration in Abia State, the former governor declined to comment on Otti’s performance, noting that former governors typically refrain from publicly evaluating their successors.
“I speak as a former governor; we don’t talk about our successors. We only do so after they leave office,” he said.
Pressed further, Ikpeazu shifted focus to party organisation and electoral preparedness.
“My concern right now is how to organise my party for elections. If the PDP is strong enough to contest, it will certainly field a candidate, because the incumbent is not from our party,” he said.
He reiterated: “If my party is strong enough by 2027, we will present a candidate against him.”
Explaining his cautious phrasing, Ikpeazu likened his position to a scientific approach, emphasising the need to acknowledge uncertainty.
“As a teacher, I’m careful with my words. Even scientists speak within a margin of error, I am not God. So when I say ‘if’, I’m recognising that factor. It doesn’t mean we won’t present a candidate,” he added.
Beyond the 2027 outlook, Ikpeazu disclosed that 2,503 delegates were accredited for the convention. He also affirmed that reconciliation efforts within the PDP would continue despite internal challenges, noting that the party remains open to aggrieved members, even as some leaders stayed away.
He further outlined conditions under which ongoing litigation at the Supreme Court could be withdrawn, while maintaining his refusal to pass judgment on the current administration in Abia State.
Otti’s victory in the 2023 governorship election marked a major political shift in the state, ending the PDP’s 24-year hold on power. Running on the platform of the Labour Party, his win was upheld by the courts following legal challenges. The governor has since dismissed speculation about a possible defection.
