Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former banker and an Economist, Dr Alex Otti, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Abia State.
Otti emerged unopposed at the governorship primaries Wednesday in Umuahia.
He was declared winner by the Returning Officer, Mr. Sunday Okeke, after polling a total of 454 votes.
Dr. Otti was the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship flag-bearer in 2019 poll but lost to the incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He later joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, but left for the Labour Party following the leadership tussle and factionalisation rocking the APC in Abia.
The former Diamond Bank Chief Executive commands large followership across the state due to his sound economic blueprint and manifesto for the state.
In his acceptance speech, Otti said that he was prepared to move Abia state “from the era of bad governance to an era of prosperity.”
He regretted that Abia had been retarded due to mis-governance, and vowed to chase the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, out of power in 2023.
The governorship hopeful solicited the support of all Abians to enable him to actualise his ambition which he said was in the interest of the state.
According to him: “You have started a movement which no cabal can stop. We are the party the majority of people who deserve good leadership in the state are looking for.
“The symbol of our party is human beings; I therefore urge you to join me as we work hard to win the 2023 governorship election and make life easier for our people. If elected, I will donate my salary for humanitarian purposes.
“We shall move in with courage to upset the backlog of unpaid salaries, stop insecurity, bad roads and poor health care delivery because we have all takes to make a difference.
“We will activate industrialization in the state to move our people to prosperity, through Education, Agricultural policies and reduce rural urban migration.”
