Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has declared that he would not oppose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should he decide to seek the APC ticket for re-election in 2027.

Otti made this known while responding to questions during his monthly media chat for March, held on Friday night at the Government House, Umuahia.

The governor also directed political office appointees interested in contesting elective offices in the 2027 general elections to remain in office for now.

The questions came up following concerns that he had not directed political appointees to vacate office, unlike some other governors, as well as a claim by an Abia Labour Party member of the House of Representatives that the governor would not oppose Tinubu in the election.

He said, “I am not in a position to oppose President Tinubu’s candidacy. I have no basis to challenge his re-election, as I am not contesting for the presidency but seeking a second term as governor of Abia State. At the appropriate time, in line with the rules, interested political appointees will vacate office accordingly.”

Otti also stated that there is no crisis in the Labour Party at any level in Abia, noting that the Supreme Court had resolved earlier disputes.

He added that INEC has respected the judgment, while the party is currently undertaking membership registration ahead of ward, local government, and state congresses, culminating in a national convention.

Otti further disclosed plans by his administration to convert the partially completed Government House project initiated by the previous administration into a five-star hotel.

He said the current Government House location remains suitable and is being rebuilt into a befitting structure, while discussions are ongoing with a major hotel chain to repurpose the uncompleted project at Ogwurube Layout into a hospitality facility.

“From all indications, there is no need to relocate the Government House. We are reconstructing a befitting structure here. The question now is what to do with the previous project. Our best approach is to convert it into a major hospitality project,” Otti said.

On rising house rents in the state, Otti attributed the trend to a mismatch between housing demand and supply, noting that his administration is developing housing estates to increase availability.

He also provided updates on key developments in the state, including the recent 30th–32nd convocation ceremony of Abia State University, Uturu, where 10,255 students graduated.

He said the government had flagged off the reconstruction of 10,000-bed student hostels and launched plans for an international secondary school, alongside restoring electricity to the university after decades of blackout. He added that a 15-megawatt independent power solution is being planned for the institution.

Otti disclosed that Abia State had secured a $200 million investment from Presco Plc for palm plantation development across four locations, and has been considered for the second phase of a $350 million multi-state agricultural programme.

He also noted the commissioning of a $35 million beverage plant in Aba, with further expansion plans estimated at $75 million, as well as ongoing work at the Abia Innovation and Industrial Park in Ukwa, which includes a proposed modular refinery.

The governor further announced that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had donated an MRI machine worth $1 million to the state.

He said 569 healthcare workers have been recruited out of an approved 774, while recruitment remains open. He added that 227 primary healthcare centres are being upgraded to ensure at least one functional facility per ward.

Otti commended residents and security agencies for maintaining peace during a recent protest, which he said was handled professionally without escalation.

He also confirmed that 200 hectares of land have been approved for a Nigerian Air Force base at the proposed Abia International Airport in Nsulu, being developed in partnership with the Federal Government.

On alleged herdsmen-related tensions, Otti urged residents to remain law-abiding, warning against taking the law into their own hands while assuring that criminal activities, including destruction of farmlands, would not be tolerated. (Guardian)

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