Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has issued a stern warning to those planning to rig the 2027 general elections in the state, advising them to first write their will before attempting any electoral manipulation.
Speaking during a media parley in Umuahia on Thursday night, Otti declared that Abians would not tolerate any attempt to subvert the people’s will, stressing that the era of political impunity was over. “I’ve heard that some people are boasting they will write results. My advice to them is to write their will first because this is our state, and nobody can take us for granted again,” he warned.
The governor also addressed his recent disagreement with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over claims that the Abia government had underperformed despite higher federal allocations. Otti dismissed the figures quoted by Kalu, describing them as false and politically motivated.
He said, “Kalu remains my younger brother, but this is the second time he has come out publicly to attack my administration. I have chosen to forgive him, even though he has been misinformed.” The governor further accused the lawmaker of arrogance and ignorance, saying, “He suffers from what I call information deficiency syndrome where someone lacks the right facts despite being in a position to know better.”
Otti also reacted to Kalu’s comment that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over Abia in 2027, saying he was not threatened by such political boasts. “If he says APC will take over, he should wait for INEC to lift the campaign ban. Until then, he should stop campaigning illegally,” he stated.
Explaining his administration’s economic policies, Otti noted that Abia’s Internally Generated Revenue had increased but its real value was reduced due to inflation and naira depreciation. He reminded residents that he granted a six-month tax holiday to allow the state rebuild infrastructure before reintroducing taxes, adding that many citizens were now voluntarily supporting government projects out of confidence in his leadership.