Political tension is rising in Abia State ahead of the 2027 general election, as opposition figures intensify efforts to prevent Governor Alex Otti from securing a second term in office.
Several prominent opposition leaders, many of whom previously governed the state, have openly declared their intention to unseat Otti. In recent weeks, they have held political meetings and issued public statements critical of the governor’s administration.
Last week, former governors Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji announced the formation of a political alliance aimed at reclaiming power for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia. The group, formed after a meeting in Umuahia, said it plans to contest and win all elective positions in the state in 2027.
The former governors, operating under a platform they call “The Team,” also signalled plans to initiate legal action against Otti, accusing him of running the state from his country home in Nvosi instead of the Government House in Umuahia.
Speaking to journalists, Senator Kalu accused Otti of underperforming, alleging that the governor has failed to match the level of federal allocations currently available to the state. He claimed Otti was merely rehabilitating roads built during his tenure and said he would not support the governor’s re-election bid.
In response, the governor’s Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, dismissed the opposition’s moves as politically motivated. He described the alliance of former leaders as an attempt to regain relevance and benefit from patronage politics, insisting that the current administration’s record speaks for itself.
Anokwuru argued that Otti’s reforms and visible projects have earned public support, adding that past leaders lacked the moral standing to criticise an administration focused on transparency and accountability.
Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo said the opposition’s actions were driven largely by threatened political and economic interests. He noted that Otti’s emergence disrupted a long-standing succession pattern among former governors and pointed to the abolition of salaries and allowances for ex-governors as a key factor behind the resistance.
Civil society leaders have also weighed in. President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, said Otti’s performance is evident across the state and should be judged by residents rather than political rivals.
Similarly, good governance advocate Onyebuchi Igboke described the unfolding contest as a clash between performance-based leadership and patronage politics, insisting that Otti’s achievements remain his strongest defence as the 2027 race approaches.
