2027: Otti’s aide dismisses opposition plot as ‘chasing shadows’ amid rising criticism

An aide to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dismissed growing opposition moves ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing efforts to unseat the governor as “chasing shadows.”

The governor’s Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, made the assertion during a news briefing in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where he reacted to increasing criticisms and media attacks against the Otti administration by leading opposition figures, including former governors.

Anokwuru, who titled his address “Abia Opposition: Stop Tinubu Name-Dropping and Face the Fact!”, accused the opposition of relying on President Bola Tinubu’s name and political influence rather than presenting a credible record of their own past performances in office.

He described it as “absurd” for former political leaders whom he alleged presided over years of underdevelopment in Abia State to believe they could return to power by invoking the president’s achievements.

“It is a long-established principle in both law and public life that anyone who demands equity must come with clean hands,” Anokwuru said.

“This principle is particularly relevant in the current political climate in Abia State. When former executive governors and past political office holders, whose administrations are still fresh in the collective memory of the people, congregate to challenge the present administration of Alex Otti, the public is entitled to interrogate not just their claims, but also their credibility,” he added.

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Weighing in on the controversy, a public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said the growing opposition against Governor Otti by former governors is largely driven by the need to protect entrenched political and economic interests.

In an interview, Odo said the alliance of former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu was unsurprising, noting that they belong to the same political lineage that ensured a smooth transfer of power from one administration to another over the years.

According to him, Otti’s emergence disrupted that long-standing pattern, as he assumed office without the backing of his predecessor.

Odo argued that the opposition’s resistance to Otti is less about party politics or concern for the people of Abia, and more about policies of the current administration that threaten the benefits previously enjoyed by former office holders.

He pointed out that Abia State, under Otti, became one of the few states in Nigeria to abolish the payment of salaries and allowances to former governors and their deputies—a privilege still enjoyed by ex-governors in many states.

“What’s happening in Abia State is not unexpected,” Odo said. “The former governors are protecting their interests. You can’t chastise a man for protecting his source of livelihood.

“Kalu, Orji and Ikpeazu all came from the same lineage. It was a smooth movement from one to the other. That’s unlike Otti, who emerged without the support of his predecessor.

“Under Alex Otti, Abia stopped paying salaries and allowances to former governors and their deputies. Isn’t this enough reason for them to team up against him?” he asked.

Odo added that while critics may accuse Otti of focusing mainly on road construction, it is ultimately the people of Abia who will judge the administration’s performance.

Similarly, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, said Governor Otti’s achievements are evident to the people, regardless of criticisms from former governors.

According to him, genuine development does not require aggressive government propaganda, but rather visible projects that directly impact citizens’ lives.

“When you are talking of development, you don’t need people in government to be telling you that there is development,” Omotayo said. “It is the people that will testify that a governor has done roads, schools and other projects that affect their lives.”

He maintained that residents of Abia State have openly acknowledged improvements in infrastructure and governance under Otti, which he described as the true measure of leadership performance.

Omotayo dismissed criticisms from former governors, arguing that a comparison between their years in office and Otti’s record shows a clear difference in output. However, he warned that prevailing economic hardship could still influence voters’ behaviour during elections.

“People appreciate that a government is doing well,” he said. “But because of poverty and economic hardship, there is always the risk that vote-buying could influence outcomes.”

Also commenting on the issue, the Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance and Convener of the Office of the Citizens, Onyebuchi Igboke, described the opposition to Otti as a struggle between performance-based governance and patronage politics.

Igboke said Nigerian politics often rewards loyalty and mediocrity rather than measurable achievements, noting that Otti represents a departure from that tradition.

According to him, the governor’s projects are visible and acknowledged even beyond Abia State, adding that Otti’s achievements in just over two years surpass what former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu achieved during their combined 24 years in office.

“I think any right-thinking person will ask whether we are celebrating mediocrity or performance,” Igboke said.

“What Alex Otti represents is performance. Even people who are not living in Abia State can attest to the tremendous job being done.

“Some people believe the former governors’ actions are driven by the pursuit of political relevance, federal appointments or financial benefits. Their pursuit is self-serving,” he added.