Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he will not seek to control the state’s political leadership after completing his second tenure in 2031, insisting that his successor should emerge on the basis of competence rather than personal loyalty.
Otti spoke on Thursday in Umuahia while receiving former Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ngozi Johnson-Chukwunenye, and her supporters into the Labour Party.
The governor said he would neither become a political godfather nor impose a successor, arguing that Abia should move away from what he described as a “sit-tight” leadership culture.
According to him, the state would identify the most suitable candidate when the time comes and collectively support that person.
“I don’t want to be a godfather and I don’t tolerate godfathers. We will all sit down, look at everybody and say, who is the best person for this job and then all of us will agree and we will campaign for him,” Otti said.
He also repeated his position that he would not seek another elective office after completing his second term, saying his priority was to provide good governance while creating opportunities for younger people to assume leadership responsibilities.
Otti said his administration was already investing in youth leadership development through initiatives such as the Abia Leadership Academy. He disclosed that more than 1,080 young people between 16 and 25 had recently graduated from the programme.
He said the emergence of a new generation of leaders was necessary to ensure that the state did not return to what he called its previous conditions.
The governor also defended his administration’s development programme, saying criticism would not deter efforts to improve infrastructure and governance across the state.
He said the government initially concentrated on restoring Aba and Umuahia before expanding its projects into other parts of Abia.
“We are now moving into the hinterlands, and we will continue until we reach everywhere; so nothing will stop us,” he said, adding that meaningful development could not be achieved overnight.
Johnson-Chukwunenye, who announced her support for Otti’s second-term bid, said she had followed his administration’s activities and was persuaded by efforts to “clean, light up and restore dignity” to Abia.
She also advocated legislation to promote “continuity and completion” of government projects across successive administrations.
Meanwhile, LP National Vice-Chairman, Southeast, Ishmael Onuoha, said the party remained focused on the interests of ordinary Nigerians.
Abia LP Chairman Peter Azubuike attributed growing support for the party to what he described as Otti’s performance, while urging members to prepare for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Otti also commended Johnson-Chukwunenye for supporting vulnerable people, including pupils at the School for the Blind.
