…Opens up on rift with Reps deputy speaker
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has warned those plotting to rig the 2027 general elections in the state to rethink or “write their will first,” insisting that any attempt to subvert the will of Abia voters would be fiercely resisted.
Speaking during a media parley in Umuahia on Thursday night, the governor vowed that the people would not allow electoral robbery in the state.
“I’ve heard that some people say they want to take over the state and write results,” Otti said.
“The only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else first — their will! Because this is our state. Nobody can dictate to us.”
On rift with Deputy Speaker
Addressing the perceived rift between him and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, following the latter’s recent criticisms, Otti said he had forgiven Kalu.
Kalu had recently accused the Otti administration of poor performance, claiming that Abia’s development was not commensurate with the state’s monthly federal allocation, which he alleged was between ₦38 and ₦40 billion. He also credited President Bola Tinubu for projects executed in the state.
Responding, Governor Otti described Kalu as his younger brother but expressed disappointment over his “deliberate misinformation” about the state’s finances and performance.
“We have a good relationship, not just because he is Deputy Speaker. He’s my younger brother, and our relationship predates politics. But this is the second time he has publicly attacked my administration, and I’ve decided to forgive him,” Otti said.
The governor cautioned Kalu against overheating the polity for political gains, saying he should focus on his duties in the National Assembly rather than spreading false figures.
“It’s sad that someone would claim Abia receives ₦38 to ₦40 billion monthly. Those who know better have shown that we receive just about half of that. Whatever you say should be taken seriously if you call yourself number six in the country,” he added.
‘Not threatened by Kalu or APC’
Otti dismissed Kalu’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over Abia in 2027, saying he was unbothered by such boasts.
“Am I threatened? Absolutely not! I think he was terrified by the massive applause we got during the President’s visit to Aba when we inaugurated some projects,” he said.
He also accused Kalu of “hubris” and “information deficiency,” saying the Deputy Speaker seemed confused about his true ranking in national protocol.
“Sometimes when I hear him describe himself as number six, I wonder if the protocol order has changed. According to the 2000 Protocol Act, the Deputy Speaker is not number six — unless something has changed that I don’t know about,” Otti quipped.
‘No room for premature campaigns’
Otti advised Kalu to wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to lift the ban on political campaigns before declaring his alleged governorship ambition.
“I heard he wants to run for governor in 2027. That’s his right. But he should respect the law. If you start campaigning before the time, you could be disqualified. So, I plead with him to wait for INEC’s timetable,” Otti cautioned.
The governor further urged APC leaders to caution their members against “showmanship and de-marketing of the party” in Abia, emphasizing the need to sustain peace in the state.
“APC is being de-marketed in Abia by this kind of talk. But I urge our people to remain calm. We’ve managed to keep the state peaceful in the past two years, and we must sustain that peace,” he said.
On revenue and economic management
Governor Otti acknowledged a rise in Abia’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) but noted that inflation and naira depreciation had eroded much of the value.
“Our IGR may have tripled since 2022, but the value of money has dropped sharply. At ₦1,500 to the dollar today, compared to ₦400 in 2022, you can see that the increase is more nominal than real,” he explained.
He also revealed that his administration granted a six-month tax holiday at inception to enable infrastructural development before embarking on serious revenue drives.
“We couldn’t ask people to pay taxes while living in slums and wading through flooded roads. Now that we’ve created some prosperity and improved infrastructure, we can justify tax collection,” Otti said.
“We are not aggressive about raising taxes. In fact, some people voluntarily contribute to government projects because they believe in what we’re doing.”
