Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Abia State Chapter, has advised Governor Alex Otti not to quit politics after completing his second term in office in 2031, assuring him that his performance in office would secure his re-election in the 2027 governorship election.
The counsel comes amid reported opposition to the governor’s second-term ambition by a coalition of former governors. PFN said Governor Otti’s impressive scorecard would speak louder than political intimidation.
Governor Otti has, on several occasions, publicly stated his intention to retire from active politics at the end of his tenure as governor.
The PFN leadership conveyed its position through its immediate past State Chairman, Chikezie Elekwa, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the governor at his office on Tuesday, February 17.
Archbishop Elekwa appealed to the governor to reconsider his stance on quitting politics and allow the people to decide his political future.
“Some time ago, we heard you say that after your second term you would quit politics. Please, Your Excellency, don’t decide that on your own. Let the people decide,” he said.
“You cannot serve the people for only eight years and then disappear. Please, let it go public and let the people decide what happens next.”
The cleric further declared that Governor Otti need not worry about campaigning ahead of the 2027 elections, assuring him of PFN’s full mobilisation across the state.
“You won’t need to campaign next year. PFN is already mobilising from the grassroots. We have members in every local government and ward, and we assure you of our votes,” he said.
Archbishop Elekwa praised the governor for what he described as the restoration of dignity and pride to Abia State.
“Before you came on board, spiritual darkness covered this state. But the moment you appeared, the darkness disappeared. Today, we are proud to say anywhere that we are from Abia State,” he added.
He pledged the continued support of the Church to the Otti administration, assuring that the newly elected PFN executive would sustain the backing already given by the outgoing leadership.
“Abians will never go back to darkness. This light God has brought through you will continue to shine brighter every day, in the name of Jesus Christ,” Elekwa declared.
The PFN leader also thanked God for using Governor Otti to “deliver Abia from bad leadership,” describing him as an answer to the prayers of the people.
“We have never had it this good. To some of us, it feels like a dream. Abians cried, Abians prayed, and God answered by giving us a gift in your person,” he said.
He informed the governor that the current PFN State Chairman, Newlife Ugochukwu, was indisposed and unable to attend the meeting, but reaffirmed the organisation’s unwavering support for the administration.
Responding, Governor Otti thanked the PFN leadership for its prayers, encouragement, and consistent support, acknowledging the critical role the Christian body played in his political journey.
“It is important to put it on record that PFN supported this movement from the beginning—in 2015, in 2019, and again in 2023. You stood firm with other fathers of faith, and we do not take that for granted,” he said.
The governor stressed that his administration’s core mission remains the restoration of the dignity of Abians and the rewriting of the state’s story, noting that governance is a collective responsibility.
“No one can do it alone,” he said, while commending members of his team for their contributions to the transformation across the state.
Governor Otti also reflected on the need for people of faith to be actively involved in governance, observing that the withdrawal of believers from politics in the past contributed to poor leadership.
“For a long time, politics was seen as something meant for a certain kind of people. Many who believed in God stayed away, and leadership was handed over to those who either did not believe or only pretended to believe. This is the time to hand the state back to God,” he said.
While appreciating PFN’s call for him to remain in politics beyond his current tenure, the governor maintained that such decisions must be guided by divine direction.
“As humans, we may have our own thoughts about when to step aside. But ultimately, we cannot speak when the Lord has not spoken,” he added.
Those present at the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba; the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Eno Jerry Eze; the Senior Special Assistant on Religious Matters, Kenneth Wiper; the Director-General, Strategic Communication Bureau, Onyebuchi Ememanka; and other top government officials.
