Ahead of the 2027 general elections, political tension is mounting in Abia State as opposition leaders, many of whom are former governors, unite to challenge Governor Alex Otti’s bid for re-election.
The coalition of ex-governors, including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, has publicly vowed to prevent Otti’s return to power. Last week, they convened in Umuahia and formed an alliance they have dubbed “The Team,” aiming to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all elective positions in the state.
Senator Kalu stated that the group intends to use both political mobilization and legal means to challenge Otti’s administration, including plans for litigation alleging that the governor conducts state affairs from his country home in Nvosi instead of the Government House in Umuahia.
Kalu emphasized the enduring legacies of their administrations, rejecting narratives that former governments left no impact. “Leadership is a relay. I handed over to Senator T.A. Orji, who handed over to Okezie Ikpeazu. No single individual can claim we achieved nothing. If we did nothing, where would our people be today?” he remarked.
Addressing journalists, Kalu criticized Governor Otti’s stewardship, claiming the governor has done little beyond repainting roads constructed during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007. “The money Otti receives in four months is what I received in eight years,” Kalu said, vowing not to support Otti’s re-election after backing him in 2023.
Responding, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Policies and Interventions, dismissed the critics as “chasing shadows.” Speaking at a press briefing in Umuahia, Anokwuru challenged former governors to defend their own records instead of relying on President Bola Tinubu’s name, calling their alliance “absurd” given their past underdevelopment of the state.
“It is a long-established principle that anyone seeking equity must come with clean hands,” Anokwuru stated, questioning the credibility of those now opposing the administration they once led.
Political analyst Nduka Odo of Peaceland University, Enugu, interprets the opposition as a defense of entrenched political and economic interests rather than genuine concern for Abia’s welfare.
Odo noted that Otti’s rise marked a break from a political lineage that peacefully transitioned power among former governors. He highlighted Otti’s policy to abolish salaries and allowances for former governors and deputies—a reform that has understandably threatened previous beneficiaries.
“What’s happening in Abia state is not unexpected. They are protecting their sources of livelihood,” Odo remarked, adding that such political unity among old leaders often hampers development.
Olu Omotayo, President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), praised Governor Otti for tangible infrastructure improvements and good governance that residents recognize, dismissing criticisms by former governors as baseless.
“Under Otti’s administration, people are openly acknowledging improvements in infrastructure and governance. That is the true measure of performance,” Omotayo said, while acknowledging economic hardships that may influence election outcomes.
Onyebuchi Igboke, Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance, described the opposition as motivated by personal interests, including desires for political appointments and financial benefits, rather than genuine public service.
Igboke pointed out that Otti’s achievements in just over two years surpass the combined 24 years of his predecessors, warning that intimidation attempts against the governor would fail.
“Some people are simply protecting patronage networks threatened by Otti’s performance-driven governance,” he concluded.
