The Ukwa La Ngwa people of Abia State have formally endorsed Governor Alex Otti for a second term in office, honouring him with a colourful grand civic reception and announcing a donation of ₦100 million to purchase his nomination form for the 2027 governorship election.
The endorsement and donation were unveiled on Friday, January 30, at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, where thousands of supporters from across Ukwa La Ngwa land and beyond gathered to celebrate the governor’s achievements in office. The donation was announced by the Steering Committee for the Ukwa La Ngwa Grand Civic Reception for Governor Alex Otti, marking what many described as an unprecedented show of unity and confidence in the governor’s leadership.
Addressing the massive crowd, Governor Otti expressed deep appreciation to the people of Ukwa La Ngwa for the warm reception, their public endorsement, and the gesture of support. He described the turnout as overwhelming and reaffirmed his commitment to people centred governance.
“The moment we came in here this afternoon, the mammoth crowd was intimidating. I want to thank all of you. Thank you for the endorsement. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the encouragement,” the governor said.
Governor Otti stressed that his administration belongs to the people of Abia State and would always prioritise their collective interest over personal or sectional considerations. He noted that the event transcended party lines, describing it as a celebration of performance rather than partisan politics.
“This is your government, and your interest will always come first. Some of the noise you hear out there is about self interest. But what you see here today is not about party or partisan celebration. It is about the people,” he stated.
The governor also used the occasion to outline key upcoming projects, announcing that Ovom Road would be commissioned on February 25. He further disclosed that the same day would witness the flag off of the reconstruction of the Enyimba Hotel into a five star hospitality facility to be handled by Radisson Blu.
“Our style is not to flag off and go home. We are going to give them a short delivery period. We want the five star hotel to start functioning by next year,” Otti assured.
Turning to civic responsibility, Governor Otti urged residents of Aba and other parts of the state who were yet to register for their Permanent Voter Cards to do so without delay. He emphasised that voter registration was critical for the people to fully exercise their democratic power in future elections.
“The number of people in Aba is about ten times the number of votes that usually come from Aba. The only way to show your strength is to go into every nook and cranny and encourage people to register. I know you will do that,” he said.
He also appealed to residents to take ownership of security and environmental sanitation in their neighbourhoods, urging everyone to act as chief security and chief cleaning officers of their immediate surroundings.
“We want Aba to be the cleanest city in Nigeria. We are close, but we are not there yet. Everyone should take responsibility for their environment. Do not allow miscreants to spoil what we have achieved,” the governor added.
Reflecting on the significance of the reception, Governor Otti quoted a biblical saying that a prophet is often not honoured among his own people, noting that the endorsement by Ukwa La Ngwa meant a great deal to him. He thanked the leadership of the zone for pledging to purchase his nomination form for the 2027 election.
Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, described the event as a people’s verdict rather than a political rally. He commended Governor Otti’s performance, noting that the people of Ukwa La Ngwa, irrespective of political affiliation, had come together to speak with one voice.
“This is not a political party rally. It is the collective affirmation of the masses to celebrate a man who has demonstrated that good governance is real and achievable,” Senator Wabara said.
He added that Governor Otti’s achievements over the past two and a half years were verifiable and not based on propaganda, stressing that Abians would not surrender their mandate to any cabal in 2027.
“Any attempt to manipulate or subvert the will of the people will be firmly resisted. Abians are awake and determined to defend their mandate. The era of imposing leaders is gone. The future of Governor Alex Otti will be decided by Abia voters through the ballot,” he declared.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders from the nine local government areas of Ukwa La Ngwa, the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, alongside the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, said Governor Otti had changed the narrative in governance and deserved the support of all Abians.
The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Steering Committee for the civic reception, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the event was a clear expression of love and acceptance for the governor. He announced that Ukwa La Ngwa people had raised ₦100 million to purchase the governor’s nomination form and were prepared to contribute more if necessary.
Earlier, the leader and spokesperson of the Ukwa La Ngwa people, Chief Theo Nkire, described Governor Otti as a transformative leader who had, within a short period, revolutionised multiple sectors of the state’s economy. He particularly highlighted the transformation of Aba from a largely import dependent commercial centre into a rising industrial hub.
In a vote of thanks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and son of the soil, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD, praised Governor Otti for his commitment to rebuilding Abia State after years of decline. He noted that the governor was creating a conducive environment for investments and sustainable development.
Traditional rulers from across Ukwa La Ngwa nation also honoured Governor Otti with symbolic gifts and publicly declared their total support, affirming that the people would not “go back to Egypt.”
The grand civic reception, which featured colourful cultural displays, attracted dignitaries from across the state and beyond, including the member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Ginger Onwusibe, and several other political leaders, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders.
The event underscored a growing wave of public endorsement for Governor Alex Otti ahead of 2027, as Ukwa La Ngwa people pledged unity, support, and resources to sustain what they described as a new era of accountable and performance driven governance in Abia State.
