Otti Abia opposition claims are driven by Tinubu’s influence, not achievements, says governor’s aide, ahead of 2027 reelection bid
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dismissed opposition moves to block his 2027 reelection bid, describing the effort as “chasing shadows,” in a statement delivered through his aide, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru.
Also read: Otti vows to block Kalu’s Abia North re-election bid
Anokwuru, Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, spoke during a news briefing in Umuahia, accusing former governor Senator Orji Kalu and other opposition figures of relying heavily on President Bola Tinubu’s name instead of their own past achievements.
The governor’s team said opposition politics must be credible and constructive.
Anokwuru contended that the recent posture of Abia opposition appears motivated by “selfishness, bitterness, and political survival” rather than substantive critique.
“It is expected that an opposition made up of past governors and political office holders should build their argument against a sitting government based on their own achievements in the past, rather than relying on name-dropping of President Tinubu and Renewed Hope,” he said.
Anokwuru added that opposition should point out gaps, propose solutions, and hold leadership accountable in ways that benefit the state.
He warned that when opposition relies on misinformation or borrowed federal influence, it ceases to be a democratic asset and becomes a personal vendetta.
He also highlighted that federal proximity cannot substitute for local legitimacy.
“When individuals, who should speak from the strength of their own achievements, instead lean on external executive power, it signals an absence of substance,” he said.
The briefing followed growing tensions in Abia State politics, as speculation mounts over potential challengers to Otti’s reelection in 2027.
Also read: Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu Invites Abia Governor Otti to Join APC
Anokwuru noted that President Tinubu continues to support Governor Otti, recognising him as “one of the best performing governors in Nigeria, if not the best.”
