A socio-cultural group from Abia State has pledged ₦100 million to support Governor Alex Otti’s re-election bid ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 governorship elections, signalling early political mobilisation in the southeastern state.

The donation was announced by the Ukwa La Ngwa people of Abia State during a grand civic reception held in honour of the governor at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, the state’s commercial hub.

A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary stated that Njoku Ukoha, Safunds were raised collectively by members of the Ukwa La Ngwa community to purchase Otti’s nomination form when the process begins.

Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and chairman of the steering committee for the civic reception, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the group was united in its support for the governor and prepared to make additional contributions if necessary.

Addressing the gathering, Otti thanked the people for what he described as an overwhelming show of support, noting that the turnout reflected public confidence in his administration.

“This is your government, and your interest will always come first. Governance in Abia is no longer driven by personal or partisan interest,” the governor said.

Otti, elected in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party, has frequently cited infrastructure renewal, education and urban renewal as key priorities of his administration.

At the event, he announced that Ovom Road would be commissioned on February 25, alongside the formal commencement of the reconstruction of Enyimba Hotel into a five-star hospitality facility to be managed by Radisson Blu.

“Our approach is not to flag off projects and abandon them. We want the hotel to be completed and functional by next year,” Otti said.

He also urged residents of Aba to register for their Permanent Voter Cards, stressing that voter participation remained essential to political representation and accountability.

“The population of Aba far exceeds the number of votes recorded here. Registration and participation are the only ways to demonstrate political strength,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the occasion and Board of Trustees Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, described the event as a reflection of public approval of the governor’s performance in office.

“This gathering is not a party rally but a people’s verdict on governance,” Wabara said, adding that Abia residents would defend their electoral mandate in future polls.

Also speaking, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, and Labour Party National Secretary Darlington Nwokocha said Otti’s policies across multiple sectors had earned him broad-based support.

Traditional rulers from Ukwa La Ngwa communities also pledged continued backing for the governor, while cultural displays marked the occasion, attended by federal and state lawmakers as well as senior political figures. (Guardian)