By UZOMA ISIAKPU
At least two profound issues emerged during the March 2026 edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks To Abians.”. These can be referred to as matters arising from the media interactive session between Governor Alex Otti and the journalists.The first was that the Abia State Chief Executive at last laid to rest widespread speculations of his intention to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Emphatically, the Governor pronounced that he is not exiting the Labour Party (LP) on whose platform he was elected into office. He ruled out the possibility of defecting to any political party at present or in the foreseeable future.
By implication, Governor Alex Otti is staying put and will context the 2027 governorship election under the banner of the Labour Party (LP). By this clarification, the governor has vindicated his two top media aides – Ferdinand Ekeoma and Onyebuchi Ememanka – who had earlier vouched that their Principal will never defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In their separate write-ups, Ekeoma and Ememanka contended that Governor Alex Otti was not moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC) inspite of the cajoling, intimidation and blackmail by stalwarts of the party in the state.
The duo told it to the mountains that Governor Otti has excellent rapport with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. To buttress the age long cordial relationship existing between Mr. President and the Abia State Governor, they highlighted recent high level engagements of the later at the centre at the behest of the presidency.
To be candid, the decision of Governor Alex Otti not to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a wise political judgement. The reason is this. Against the backdrop of the pervading acrimony, animosity, hostility and frosty relationship between and among faithfuls of the APC and LP in the state, it would have amounted to political suicide for Governor Otti to have defected to the Broom Party. At present , the relationship is so estranged for comfort.
The second issue was that Governor Alex Otti declared his total support for the second term ambition of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. According to the Governor, his support for the reelection of the President in 2027, is premised on the fact that himself is also seeking a second term in office. Governor Otti, in other words, is of the opinion that it is immoral of him to stand in the way of the president. Good as it is for Governor Otti to embrace the rules of right conduct, he should realise that by the proclamation, he has placed a heavy burden on himself.
The affirmation of support for President Bola Tinubu entails that Governor Otti and the Labour Party (LP) in the state will go all out to campaign for the APC presidential candidate in the January 16, 2027 presidential election whether or not Labour Party has a presidential candidate. Based on this scenario, the campaign machine of the ruling Labour Party in Abia State will have a dual role to perform in the Presidential and National Assembly vote hunt.
On one hand, the Director General of the Labour Party (LP) and his campaign team will strive to persuade the Abia electorate to vote for President Bola Tinubu. And on the other hand, they will also be seeking the favour of eligible voters to thumb up for their own party Senate and House of Representatives candidates in the same election. Indeed, this is a very dicey situation to navigate.
Whatever the case, Governor Alex Otti has already made the promise. And coming from the Number One citizen of the state, it should be taken seriously. That is why the Governor must do all within his powers to ensure that the declaration of support for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is translated to his securing Abia State in the 2027 presidential election. The presidency is earnestly waiting and watching the outcome of the pledge. It is only when Mr. President emerges victorious in the state that Governor Otti will be seen to have discharged the burden he placed on his shoulders. Can he discharge that burden? The next nine months will tell.
Uzoma Isiakpu is a Public Relations Consultant.
