Among those listed as members of the group are former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, alongside several ex-legislators and political appointees who have held key positions in the state over the past two decades.
Political tensions are once again rising in Abia State as a powerful coalition of former governors, legislators, and political appointees who served the state between 1999 and 2023 have resolved to take Governor Alex Otti to court over his continued refusal to operate from the Abia State Government House in Umuahia.
The decision was reached during the group’s second high-level meeting, which took place at the residence of a former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji. The gathering brought together influential political figures from different administrations in the state, reflecting what observers describe as a rare show of unity among former power blocs in Abia politics.
Among those listed as members of the group are former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, alongside several ex-legislators and political appointees who have held key positions in the state over the past two decades
At the end of the meeting, the group issued a strongly worded communiqué, announcing its readiness to institute legal action against Governor Otti. According to the communiqué, the planned lawsuit is aimed at compelling the governor to vacate his private residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, and officially conduct state affairs from the Government House in Umuahia, as provided for by law and long-standing tradition.
“A lawsuit should be instituted compelling Governor Alex Otti to operate from the Government House, Umuahia,” the communiqué stated emphatically.
The document, which was read to journalists by Victor Ike Oye, a former media aide in the Abia State Government, expressed deep dissatisfaction with what the group described as the governor’s continued disregard for established norms of governance. The former officials said they were alarmed that, several months into his administration, Governor Otti is yet to relocate to the Government House, choosing instead to run state affairs from his personal residence.
According to the group, the Government House is not merely a symbolic structure but a constitutional and administrative seat of power designed to ensure transparency, security, and institutional order in governance. They argued that operating from a private residence undermines the dignity of the office of the governor and raises concerns about accountability and access to public officials.
While Governor Otti has previously explained that his decision was influenced by the state of disrepair of the Government House he inherited, the former governors’ camp dismissed this justification, insisting that necessary renovations should not prevent the governor from formally occupying or at least operating from the official residence.
Political analysts say the move signals a deepening rift between the current administration and past political leadership in the state. Governor Otti, who rode to power on the platform of the Labour Party, ended the long dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia, a development that significantly altered the state’s political landscape. Since assuming office, his governance style and reform agenda have drawn both praise and criticism.
Beyond the planned legal action, the group also used the opportunity to make a major political declaration at the national level. In the communiqué, the former Abia leaders pledged their readiness to work towards the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. They described the president’s leadership as crucial to national stability and economic recovery, promising to mobilise political structures within Abia State in support of his second-term bid
The group further expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for nominating one of their members, former governor Okezie Ikpeazu, for an ambassadorial appointment. They described the nomination as a recognition of service and experience, and a sign that the president values contributions from Abia State.
The development has sparked mixed reactions across Abia. While some residents see the planned lawsuit as unnecessary political pressure on a sitting governor, others believe the issue touches on the sanctity of public office and the rule of law. Civil society groups and legal experts are also divided, with some questioning whether a court can compel a governor to operate from a specific location, while others argue that the matter raises valid constitutional and administrative questions
As of the time of filing this report, the Abia State Government has not issued an official response to the communiqué or the threat of legal action. However, political watchers believe the unfolding drama could further polarise the state’s political environment and set the stage for intense legal and political battles in the months ahead.
Whether the courts will eventually be asked to decide where a sitting governor must operate from remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the regrouping of former Abia power brokers has added a new layer of complexity to the state’s already charged political atmosphere.