Local Government chairmen in Abia State have criticised former governors of the state for “ganging up” against Governor Alex Otti, describing them as “architects of a failed past who are unsettled by the present progress in the state.”
The council chairmen, who spoke at a press conference on Friday in Umuahia, said the former governors were driven by envy, claiming they felt threatened by Governor Otti’s achievements in office.
Their reaction followed recent comments by some former governors who allegedly vowed to ensure Otti becomes a one-term governor and to hand over Abia State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Reading from a prepared statement, the Mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government Area and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abia State chapter, Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, said any attempt to gang up against the governor would fail, stressing that Otti enjoys widespread grassroots support based on his performance.
Flanked by 16 other council chairmen, Ekeke said the governor’s achievements “speak clearly and visibly across all 17 LGAs of the state,” adding that since assuming office, Otti has shown strong commitment to good governance, fiscal discipline and effective service delivery.
“As custodians of grassroots governance, we are in constant interaction with our communities and can attest to the growing public confidence in the direction of governance and the tangible benefits currently being experienced by our people,” he said.
According to him, “It’s apparent that the unease behind these statements arises not from poor governance, but from the stark contrast between Gov. Otti’s achievements and the abysmal records of past administrations.
“Every project executed, every service delivered, and every reform implemented under his leadership sets a new standard of governance. The standard has unsettled those whose previous tenures left Abia with unmet needs and unfulfilled promises.”
Ekeke further stated, “We recognise that in a democratic system, leadership is determined by performance and the freely expressed will of the electorate through credible elections, and not by declarations, pronouncements or political gang-ups.”
The council chairmen also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Otti, urging his critics to present verifiable facts rather than resorting to threats and blackmail.
“Public discourse must be approached with facts, not falsehoods, exaggerations, or revisionist narratives,” they said.
The mayors added that it was “inappropriate for any individual or group to attempt to pre-empt the democratic process or undermine the visible progress being recorded in Abia State through speculative political rhetoric.”
They reaffirmed their “commitment to supporting policies and programmes that strengthen local governance, deepen institutional development and improve the quality of life of citizens.”