People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State Chapter
Office of the Chairman
His Excellency,
Dr. Alex Otti
Governor of Abia State
Government House, Umuahia, Abia State
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI ON THE PROPOSED REDUCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN’S TENURE AND URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS PRESSING STATE ISSUES
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, I write to express our deep concern over your administration’s ill-advised move to reduce the tenure of duly elected Local Government Chairmen from four years to two years through the Abia State House of Assembly.
This attempt to alter the democratic process midstream is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and a direct affront to the rule of law. It is, quite frankly, an abuse of power that seeks to erode the sanctity of our democratic institutions and disenfranchise the very people who voted these officials into office under a clear four-year mandate.
Your Excellency, I must pose a direct question to you: How would you feel if the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria initiated steps through the National Assembly to reduce the tenure of Governors from four years to two years? Would you not consider it an unjust and destabilizing move? Would you not resist such a proposal as an attack on democracy?
Democracy thrives on predictability and respect for established rules. The Local Government elections were conducted based on a four-year tenure, and those elected were sworn in accordingly. The attempt to retroactively alter their tenure is not only a gross miscarriage of justice but also tantamount to rigging the system in favor of a predetermined outcome. No responsible democratic government should seek to change the rules in the middle of the game, as such actions make a mockery of governance and the electoral process.
Your administration should be mindful that governance is a trust—one that requires fairness, transparency, and respect for constitutional order. By attempting to alter the legally established tenure of elected officials, you undermine not only the local government system but also the credibility of governance at all levels.
Should your administration succeed in this unjust and illegal bid, it would set a dangerous precedent where elected officials at any level of government could be arbitrarily stripped of their tenures by those in power. This would expose the entire democratic process to political manipulations that threaten the stability of governance in Abia State and Nigeria at large.
If your government proceeds with this plan, it would open the door for future leaders to alter gubernatorial tenure in Abia State, just as you are attempting to do at the local government level. This could mean a future administration might arbitrarily truncate your tenure before it is due to end, using the same legislative maneuvering you now seek to deploy against local government chairmen.
Governance should not be conducted in a manner that breeds chaos, resentment, and instability. Rather than pushing for an unconstitutional action, we implore you to focus on issues that genuinely impact the lives of the people of Abia State.
Instead of engaging in this desperate attempt to manipulate the democratic process, we strongly advise that you redirect your energy and the resources of your administration to addressing the more pressing concerns of Abians, particularly in the areas of unpaid pensions and financial transparency.
Despite your numerous promises, the lingering crisis of unpaid pensions and outstanding salary arrears remains unresolved. Many of our senior citizens—who dedicated decades of their lives to public service—are left to suffer indignities and hardships due to the government’s failure to honor its obligations. These retirees deserve to live in dignity, not beg for survival after a lifetime of service. Your Excellency, we urge you to prioritize pensioners’ welfare and ensure that they receive their entitlements without further delay. No government that claims to be “pro-people” should allow those who built the state to be abandoned in their old age.
Abians are also growing increasingly frustrated and disillusioned over your government’s lack of transparency concerning the billions of naira allegedly spent on projects that remain unverifiable. Since assuming office, your administration has reportedly spent over ₦100 billion on projects that the people of Abia cannot visibly identify or assess.
The citizens are asking: Where exactly have these funds gone? Which projects have been completed and commissioned with these billions? Why is there no comprehensive financial accountability for these expenditures?
Rather than attempting to divert attention through unconstitutional acts, we urge you to open your administration’s financial books for public scrutiny. Transparency breeds trust, and Abians deserve to know how their resources are being managed.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State categorically rejects any attempt to alter the tenure of duly elected Local Government Chairmen. We call on the Abia State House of Assembly to reject this undemocratic proposal and uphold the integrity of the electoral process. We also urge Governor Alex Otti to withdraw from this illegality immediately and focus on governing responsibly. Furthermore, we call on the general public, civil society organizations, and all democracy-loving Abians to resist any action that undermines the rule of law.
Your Excellency, leadership is measured by one’s ability to govern fairly, transparently, and accountably—not by seeking to undermine democratic institutions for political convenience. History will judge this administration by the decisions it takes today. Will you be remembered as a leader who upheld democracy, or as one who manipulated the system for personal or political gain?
We urge you to reconsider this unconstitutional move, focus on pressing issues that affect the daily lives of Abians, and uphold the principles of fairness and justice that democracy demands.
We trust that wisdom, justice, and respect for the law will guide you in making the right decision.
Yours sincerely,
Elder Abraham Amah
Chairman, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State
