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Tag: Alex Otti

  • Abia APC chieftain challenges Otti over ₦54bn school renovation controversy

    Abia APC chieftain challenges Otti over ₦54bn school renovation controversy

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has called on Governor Alex Otti to provide clarity on the alleged ₦54 billion school renovation expenditure, accusing him of distracting the public with contradictions.

    Governor Otti, during his monthly media chat last weekend, dismissed claims that ₦54 billion was missing from the state treasury, describing the allegations as baseless and stemming from ignorance about government budgeting and spending.

    Reacting in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, Ikonne questioned why a governor who prides himself on having “seasoned accountants” in his administration would contradict his own government’s records. 

    He insisted that Abians deserve answers on “where the schools are, and where the ₦54 billion went.”

    The APC stalwart recalled that similar sums had been earmarked in the past, including ₦18 billion reportedly set aside for school renovations, with little to show on the ground.

    Citing a recent online investigative report, Ikonne noted that official budget performance documents contradict Otti’s claims. 

    According to the report, Abia State recorded ₦54.066 billion spent on rehabilitation and repairs of public schools in the last quarter of 2024 alone, while total expenditure for the fiscal year stood at ₦58.323 billion.

    Ikonne argued that if the governor insists only ₦2.1 billion was spent on schools, then he must explain why his own administration’s records show otherwise.

    He further pointed to the approved 2024 budget, which allocated ₦64.7 billion for the renovation or modelling of 51 schools, averaging ₦1.26 billion per school — a figure he said raises more questions than answers.

    The APC leader urged Governor Otti to be transparent and accountable, stressing that education is too critical an issue for Abians to be left in the dark.

    “This data,” Ikonne stressed, “makes it clear that the governor is either deliberately misleading Abians or is unaware of what his government is signing off.”

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    He welcomed the Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), which is demanding a breakdown of the ₦54 billion, including the list of schools supposedly renovated, their names, locations, and the nature of works done.

    “Governor Otti should stop hiding behind semantics. Budgets are estimates, but expenditures are facts. The documents clearly show ₦54 billion was reported as spent between October and December 2024. If he disputes this, let him publish the schools. Abians are not asking for excuses — we are asking for evidence,” Ikonne said.

    The APC chieftain concluded by urging the governor to prioritize truth over propaganda. He added that Dr. Otti should realize that leadership is about accountability, not storytelling. He cannot claim to be the face of transparency while avoiding the simplest of questions: show us the schools.

  • Otti to host three Abians  in Super Falcons

    Otti to host three Abians  in Super Falcons

    Abia State Governor  Dr. Alex Otti said that the state would soon play host to three Abians that were members of the victorious  women’s  national team, the Super Falcons,  that recently won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations(WAFCON)  hosted by Morocco.

    Governor Otti stated  as much in his office, while receiving a delegation of the Old Bende Progressive Union led by the Member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Alex Ikwuecheghe and, the Chairman of the Union, DIG Azubuike Uda (rtd).

    He said that the three players  are  two Abia daughters and another one who, though not from Abia, grew up here in the state.

    Gov. Otti who further stated that he is restoring the dignity of Abia people, emphasised that the whole idea is to ensure that the state does not go back to “Egypt”. He said that once he retrieve the state completely, it would be difficult for the people to accept to go back to Egypt.

    He said: “The dignity of our people is being restored. Of course, the whole essence of Government is about the welfare and security of the people.

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    “And the idea is that once we have retrieved our place, like we are doing, and show that it is possible for good governance to happen in this part of the globe, it becomes a major challenge and a difficult thing for people to want to go back to Egypt.

    The State Chief Executive thanked the people of Old Bende and the entire Abia people and residents for the support his government is receiving from them.

    He described political parties in Nigeria as mere platforms for contesting elections and stressed the need for all to work together irrespective of political party leaning and appreciated the relationship existing between him and his guests, some of whom are from different political parties.

    Speaking, the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Mascot Alex Ikwuecheghe said that they  came to appreciate the Governor for transforming and revolutionising the States infrastructural deficits, saying that in just two years, the Governor has transformed the State from the worst State in the Federation to a State to be reckoned with.

    “Our people can  now proudly say, that they are from Abia State.

    “We have decided that none of our sons or daughters will run for Governorship  come  2027.

    *There is no vacancy in Government house from 2027 to 2031, ” Hon. Ikwuecheghe warned.

    Presenting the communiqué of the Union signed by her stakeholders, the Chairman, Old Bende Progressive Union, D.I.G. Azubuike Udah (rtd.) informed the Governor that people of Old Bende have resolved to champion and lead the way for his re-election in 2027.

    Udah noted that the Governor has justified the trust reposed in him by embarking on transformational projects like the Abia International Airport, the Abia Seaport, the Abia Sports City, Abia Industrial and Innovation Park among others and assured of their sustained support to the Governor.

    In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of Aba Landlords Association,  popularly known as Vote for Jesus who incidentally is from Edda, the 9th local government area of Old Bende, but located in Ebonyi, appreciated the governor for his developmental strides across the State and his commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners.

    He thanked the Governor for keeping his promise and being a prayer answered to Ndi Abia, assuring him of the support of his people who constitute a sizeable demography in Aba, the Enyimba City.

  • State creation: Ex-NALDA boss commends Uzodimma, faults Otti

    State creation: Ex-NALDA boss commends Uzodimma, faults Otti

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne,  gave kudos to Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma for his support for the creation of an additional state in the South-east region of the country.

    He also gave a knock to his Abia State counterpart, Alex Otti over what he described as his inability to stand and be counted for the entire Eastern Nigeria over the vexed issue of state creation.

    Ikonne, who was reacting to the positions of the two governors during the just concluded zonal public hearing on the 1999 Constitution review, held in Owerri on July 19th in a statement in Abuja on Thursday said Uzodinma’s  principled stand aligns with the position of well- meaning Igbos and Nigerians across the different zones.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain lamented that the grave injustice against the Igbos has inevitably led to the eastern region having 15 senators whereas other regions have 18 to 21 senators; more access to federal resources and appointments, with the consequent disproportionate influence in national affairs.

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    In the statement signed by his media aide, Chiagoziem Enoch, Ikonne, viewed Otti’s ambiguous stand as a huge waste of an opportunity for him to stand and be counted for the entire Eastern Nigeria in a matter his counterpart, Senator Uzodima in Owerri showed such zeal to drive.

    Otti had said Nigeria does not need additional states arguing that the existing ones lack viability for economic self-sustainability.

    Ikonne, however, said: “But for those who know the Abia governor, that occasion afforded him the golden opportunity to express his deep resentment and vendetta against a section of Abia who must not be allowed the casual luxury of an innocuous boast of being the indigenes of Aba.”

    Ikonne alleged that Otti has always hated the fact that Aba is located where it is today which unfortunately he cannot do anything about.

    “Seeing that he lacks the power literally to undo what God has done in his eternal plans, he has resorted to other nebulous ways to express his frustration.

    “On assumption of office, the first thing  Governor Otti did was to rush to Aba solely to declare to a crowd of both indigenes and non-indigenes that Aba is a no man’s land, an act that was capable of needlessly pitching the indigenes against non-indigenes.

  • Otti to reactivate Aba water scheme

    Otti to reactivate Aba water scheme

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti will today launch the rehabilitation of the moribund Aba Regional Water Scheme, located on the premises of Christ the King (CKC), Aba.

    The exercise, The Nation reports, is in fulfilment of one of his campaign promises of returning potable water to the homes of residents.

    The governor will also launch the Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme (IWAP), a project located at the newly-built Wash Facility at Okigwe Park in Umuahia, which was designed to bring water sanitation and hygiene back on track.

    Information Commissioner Prince Okey Kanu, addressing reporters at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council (SEC) meeting presided over by Governor Otti, said: “The three major events will hold between Aba and Umuahia. In Aba, the governor will launch the rehabilitation of Aba Regional Water Scheme.

    “As a result of the failed infrastructure, poor operations and maintenance, the scheme requires rehabilitation to restore its performance and sustainability.

    “In line with the governor’s mandate to provide potable water supply to Aba, the government awarded the contract to Vena Cava Limited to revamp the water scheme under the first phase of the project.

    “Dr. Otti will also launch the Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme (IWAP), which is designed to bring water sanitation and hygiene back on track.

    “The facility is aimed at providing safe, readily available and sustainable water sanitation services that support current and future development needs.

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    “The project is in line with the mandate of Governor Otti towards the realisation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No.6 as Zero Defecation in Abia State through the Abia Integrated Wash Accelerator Programme.’’

    The commissioner equally announced that the governor would inaugurate 150 kvs solar power, 430 kw battery storage, a project designed to power health facilities with solar energy, while reducing reliance on grid electricity, thereby decreasing diesel consumption and promoting sustainability.

    He said the government had paid for the procurement of electric vehicles for Abia State Mass Transit Transport Scheme.

    He said the buses, which were being fabricated in China, would be delivered around November.

    The commissioner said the routes for the buses had been marked out and all necessary logistic support put in place in readiness for the successful take-off of the scheme.

    He also said in line with the cultural revolution being promoted by the governor, the state government through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy would launch a creative talent programme across the 17 local governments on July 25.

    The initiative, according to the commissioner, is meant to scout for artistic and other creative talents across 17 councils.

    Kanu said Abia State had begun formal proceedings to position Aba as a UNESCO Creative City, noting that ‘’a delegation is set to visit Aba this week for early-stage assessments of the town.’’

  • Abia gov reaffirms administration’s commitment to security

    Abia gov reaffirms administration’s commitment to security

    •State launches security trust fund

    The governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to ensuring that no part of the state is yielded to insecurity.

     Otti, speaking at the launch of the Abia State Security Trust Fund at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the state capital, also charged Abians and residents to take more than a passing interest in issues of security around their vicinity to tackle security challenges and remain ahead of criminals.

    The governor who described the launch of the State Security Trust Fund as another layout programme in his holistic security outlook, focusing on prevention of criminal activities, said that the launch was in line with the provisions of the Abia State Security Trust Fund, Law 2024, which empowers the state to set up a specialised framework for mobilising, managing and deploying resources in support of our security infrastructure across the state.

     “Insecurity creates economic and social crises, impoverishes the population, and makes refugees of individuals and families in their homeland.

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     “To counter the enormous cost of the security crisis, all of us are invited to always take more than a passing interest in security issues in our neighbourhoods, places of business, and in the larger community.”

     Otti noted that his administration had demonstrated prudence in the management of resources, assuring that every kobo raised from the launch would be judiciously applied.

    He recalled that on assumption of office, he made a firm commitment to recover every inch of Abia territory from the criminals who had carved out some parts of the state for themselves and expressed joy that through Operation Crush and other security interventions, Abia is relatively peaceful. He reiterated his commitment to the security of lives and properties, promising that he would not rest on his laurels.

  • Otti secures release of Abia man, two others from death row after 26 years

    Otti secures release of Abia man, two others from death row after 26 years

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has secured the release of Ogbonnaya Igbojionu, a native of the state, along with two other Nigerians who had spent 26 years in prison and were sentenced to death in connection with a disputed generator theft case.

    Presenting the freedmen to Governor Otti, Hon. Simon Oshi from Enugu State, who facilitated the intervention, recounted how the matter came to his attention through popular social media influencer, Olumide Ogunsanwo, known online as “Sea King.”

    “When the influencer shared the case online, I decided to investigate it myself,” Oshi said. “I went to Kirikiri Prison with a team of lawyers and met the inmates. During the visit, one of them, Ogbonnaya Igbojionu, told me he was from Abia State. I promised him I would speak with his governor.”

    Oshi explained that Igbojionu and his co-accused were convicted in 2003 and sentenced to death for allegedly purchasing a stolen generator. He said that after verifying the case, he immediately contacted Governor Otti.

    “Without delay, His Excellency sent the Attorney General of Abia State to Kirikiri Prison to verify the facts. When he confirmed the situation, the governor wrote to his counterpart in the state where the men were held and pushed for their release,” Oshi said.

    Following sustained efforts, the three inmates were eventually freed. While two were physically present during the presentation, the third could not make the trip to Abia.

    Governor Otti, in his remarks, thanked Hon. Oshi for his persistence and applauded the role played by the social media influencer. He said the influencer’s own brief detention might have been divinely orchestrated to draw attention to the plight of the wrongly convicted men.

    The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice and human dignity, assuring that Abians would continue to receive support and protection under his leadership.

    Hon. Oshi commended Governor Otti for his swift action and compassionate leadership, declaring that the people of Abia would not forget such a humane gesture when the time comes to vote again.

    ‎”A typical Nigerian would say it doesn’t concern me, but because you’re a very good person, you took it upon yourself. If you didn’t bring it to my attention, I wouldn’t have known.

    ‎”So, by the time we enquired, the twist was that they were in Lagos, but it was an Ogun State matter.

    “I want to use this opportunity to also thank my brother, Governor, colleague, and friend, Dapo Abiodun, for also following through and being consistent.

    ‎”When I brought it to his attention and wrote the letter, he acknowledged it and said he was going to work on it.

    “Just last week, I was away when he called me outside the country and said they have now been released.

    ‎”For us, justice is everything. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t contribute to building a fair and just society, your money is useless.

    ‎”We’ll all come and go. People leave so much behind. Once you close your eyes and don’t open them, that’s it. That’s the end.

    “Whatever you would have accumulated and acquired would become useless,” the Governor stated.

    ‎Governor Otti, who assured that his government would give them the necessary support to bounce back to life, directed the Commissioner for Local Government and his Power and Public Utilities counterpart, who were present at the event, to work with the relevant Departments of government to ensure that they are reintegrated back into the society.

    ‎”It may not be their direct role, but I’m giving them the assignment to work with the relevant parts of government to ensure that they are reintegrated back into society.

    ‎”We will support you and get you back into society. Having said that, I want to welcome you back to this part of the world. Thank God for keeping you up to this time,” Gov. Otti added.

    ‎While thanking the Governor on behalf of his fellow condemned but freed and released inmates, Mr. Ogbonnaya Igbojionu, an indigene of Ikwuano LGA, narrated his ordeal, saying that as a dealer in generating sets, he bought a generator from one Segun Ajibade in 1999, and sold it only to see the person that sold the generator to him, coming back after two weeks to his shop with the police.

    ‎According to him, in what appears to be an arrangement, they beat him up and forced him to sign a statement they wrote by themselves while refusing to let him read through the statement.

    ‎He was taken to court and sentenced to death, where he stayed from 1999 when he was remanded in prison till 2003 when he was sentenced to death until 2025, making it 26 years of incarceration.

    He thanked the Almighty God for using Governor Otti to spare their lives.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu and his Power and Public Utilities counterpart, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday was present at the meeting.

  • Obi, Otti responsible for our crisis not FG – LP

    Obi, Otti responsible for our crisis not FG – LP

    The Labour Party (LP) led by the National Chairman, Julius Abure, has accused its former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia Governor, Alex Otti of being responsible for the leadership crisis in the party. 

    The party absolved the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)-led Federal Government of any blame in the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    It further argued that the LP was at peace until governor Otti and Obi went to Abia State to set up a caretaker committee while the tenure of the Abure leadership subsisted.

    Obi in an interview on national television on Monday, blamed the crisis in the LP on the Federal Government, whom he accused of using infiltrators to destabilise the party.

    “This is what you get, always, right? This is what you always get in Nigeria, because we now live in a country of propaganda and lies, and they manufacture it.

    “The problem we have in Labour Party is a problem instigated and sustained by the government of today.

    “I don’t need to tell you when you have a party chairman who calls a state governor a dwarf and dwarf thinking. Forget about me, so it’s not weak.

    “Okay, I’m weak, but it’s not weak. Is every other person there weak? So we’re not sincere with ourselves.

    “You speak the truth and they call you names. And we now live in a country of propaganda and lies. They are trying to put problems everywhere, they want to even put problems in families”, he said in a response to a direct question on the cause of the crisis in the LP.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the National Secretary of the Abure faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, downed what he said was Obi’s penchant for “misinformation” on the state of affairs in the LP by not telling the truth.

    The camp challenged Obi to provide proof of how the federal government or the APC was responsible for the crisis.

    It stated: “It is therefore pertinent to put on record that the problem with the Labour Party was not created by the ruling party, (APC), rather the problem in the Labour Party was created and sustained by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who is presently serving suspension for anti-party activities.

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    “We dare Obi to produce any tangible or intangible evidence which suggests remotely or otherwise that the Abure leadership of the Labour Party is in bed with the APC-led government.

    “Nobody is infallible and it behooves on anyone who makes mistakes to be bold enough to own it. When good leaders fail, they should own up to their responsibilities. Obi failed in providing leadership for the party. He should own up to his mistakes. It is therefore shameful for Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti to continue to accuse the government of infiltrating the Labour Party and by so doing demarketing the party.”

    The camp recalled the sacrifices the LP had to make in the past in order to accommodate Obi to contest the election in 2023, expressing surprise how he did not complain at the time that there were infiltrators in the party.

    “This same government was in existence in 2022 when the party made six aspirants, including Prof. Pat Utomi to step down for Peter Obi as the party’s candidate. The government was in existence when the party criss crossed all the nooks and crannies of the country including the insecurity prone areas campaigning for Peter Obi in 2022 and 2023.

    “The government was in existence when the national chairman, Julius Abure travelled across Europe and the United States to galvanise support for Peter Obi. The government was also in existence when the party leadership mobilised its members across the state leading to over six million votes won during the election”, it said.

    The party also went down memory lane to recount the efforts made to challenge the outcome of the 2023 polls.

    The statement added: “It was the same leadership that you claimed has been infiltrated that stood with Peter Obi throughout the tribunal and up to the Supreme Court. The same Abure appeared in court more than Obi refusing to be cowed when a splinter group wanted to hijack the process. The government was in existence when Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti were given sole tickets for 2023 even against the status book.

    “For the record, there was no problem in the Labour Party until Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti went to Umuahia, Abia State to create an illegal and unconstitutional Caretaker Committee that polarized the party. And may I ask, is it the ruling party that sent Obi and Otti to Umuahia to create a division in the party? 

    “They were also aware that the courts; from the lower court up to the Supreme Court clearly affirmed the leadership of the party, but Peter Obi and Alex Otti surreptitiously plotted to hijack the leadership of the party by instigating the division. Again, is it the government in power that created the division or forced them to march to INEC headquarters to exhibit their ignorance?

    “For Peter Obi to be responding to the comment where the National Chairman referred to the governor as being dwarfy in knowledge, we want to say clearly that there is no action without a reaction. The National Chairman was only responding to a pejorative comment made by the governor wherein he referred to the National Chairman as ‘masturbating’. 

    “The governor neither retracted nor apologised for that reckless statement. He showed utter disrespect to the constituted authority of the party; to the man who went out of his way to help him achieve his ambition to be a governor. 

    “If the governor is not limited or dwarfy in knowledge, he would have appreciated the import of the Supreme Court judgement which practically resolved the crisis in the party but these men were only blinded by their inordinate desire to wrestle the party from the present leadership. 

    “The party leadership has moved on since the Supreme Court judgement and we are working hard to reposition the party, to restore confidence in our members, and prevent further membership hemorrhage being witnessed across virtually all opposition parties in Nigeria today. We therefore think that it is improper for any member of the party, who means well for the party, to continue to make such unguided statements.

    “Labour Party will never go into any alliance with any other party to betray our candidates. We had every opportunity in 2023 to do so, but we chose to stand by Peter Obi and even Alex Otti before and even after the general election, when their matters were in court, but we were very consistent because of the bigger picture. And now that they have failed in their plot to dislodge a lawful leadership, they have simply resorted to blackmail instead of showing gratitude. 

    “One takeaway from Obi’s interview is that he has acknowledged that Abure is the National Chairman of the Labour Party as he clearly stated. We are therefore calling on Peter Obi and other aggrieved members of the party to understand and digest the fact that Barrister Julius Abure leadership has come to stay and nothing can change.”

  • Club greets Otti on anniversary

    Club greets Otti on anniversary

    Ngwa Social Club (NSC) has lauded Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on his second anniversary in office, noting his administration’s achievements and transformative initiatives.

    The club noted his commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, saying it has fostered trust and confidence.

    In a statement by President, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), and Secretary, Ukaobisike Uzoije, the group praised the governor’s dedication and commitment to the progress and development of Abia.

    “Over the past two years, your leadership has been characterised by remarkable achievements and transformative initiatives that have impacted the lives of our people,” the club stated.

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    NSC noted the administration’s focus on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture has yielded results.

    They include 10-megawatt Independent Power Project (IPP) at Abia State University (ABSU), completed PHC-Aba Road, dualisation of Umuikaa Junction to Umuene road, and maintenance and repair of roads in Aba, and others.

    The club pledged its support for Otti, hoping his leadership would bring increased growth and development to Abia.

    “Once again, we congratulate you on this milestone and look forward to celebrating many more years of your successful leadership,” it added.

  • Threat to Obi, Otti: Usman dares Abure

    Threat to Obi, Otti: Usman dares Abure

    Nenadi Usman, caretaker committee chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), has dared Julius Abure over his threat to expose Peter Obi, Alex Otti and other high-ranking members of her faction.

    Obi was the presidential candidate of the LP during the 2023 elections, while Otti is the current governor of Abia State.

    She spoke on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television, on Friday.

    On Monday, Abure, factional national chairman of the LP, challenged Obi and Otti to name party members who received funds for the 2023 election.

    “I am waiting for them—from top to bottom—to make any other move and I will open my mouth,” he said.

    “And when I open my mouth, wherever they go to, they will be like smelly eggs, rotten eggs that nobody will ever buy.”

    Usman, a former finance minister, therefore challenged  Abure to make good his threat without further ado.

    “Well, I am challenging him to expose us. If you have anybody to expose, you don’t go and talk now, you go and expose them,” she said.

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    Usman disclosed that the LP had records of Abure’s conduct, and that some of his actions were already the subject of police investigations.

    “We have a lot of things about him, and that is why the people who he did it went to the police,” she added.

    “The police are investigating him, and very soon you will hear about it.”

    Usman described the current crisis in the LP as an attack on internal democracy.

    “Generally, you would agree with me that every democracy needs to have a vibrant opposition.

    “So when the opposition wants to become part of the ruling party, then there’s a problem. And that is where we are today,” she said.

    The former minister further explained that Abure’s tenure as LP national chairman had elapsed and that the party had moved to resolve the leadership vacuum in line with the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “Principally, the Labour Party leadership at some point had issues with INEC because the tenure of Abure and his NWC had come to an end.

    “Which was why when INEC invited leaders of political parties, he attended the meeting and was told to step out with his secretary,” ” she said.

    Usman recalled that after the INEC incident, Abure went to court and secured a ruling ordering INEC to recognise him.

    “We, of course, appealed. Even at the court of appeal, judgment was still given in his favour that INEC should recognise him,” she said.

    She said Abure’s name on the INEC website remains listed “by court order”, contrary to the democratic requirement for leaders to emerge through election.

    “You would see his name, and you would see ‘by court order. It’s supposed to be by election — people get to be leaders of the party through election, not by court order,” she said.

    Usman said the Supreme Court later ruled that the lower courts lacked jurisdiction to declare Abure chairman.

    “We went to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court looked at the issue critically and said the two lower courts didn’t have any jurisdiction,” she said.

    “They said his tenure was over, he is not the chairman, he’s no longer the chairman of the Labour Party.”

    According to her, Justice Inyang Okoro, who read the judgment, cautioned political leaders against holding onto power after their tenure.

    “Justice Okoro even went on to advise that ‘please, leaders, when your tenure comes to an end in an office, please kindly leave honourably’,” she added.

    She said INEC’s directive was clear — the party needed to conduct fresh congresses from the ward to the national level.

    “If INEC says you don’t have leaders, your leadership, their tenure is over, then go and start having congresses,” she said.

    “From the ward to the state, to local government, you do your zonal thing, come and have a national convention where you elect new leaders.”

    She said the national executive committee (NEC) of the party then decided to put together a caretaker committee to oversee the process of electing new leaders.

    “What the party did was to look at the major stakeholders and members of the NEC,” she said.

    “They said what we should do is get together a committee that would come conduct all these congresses so that at the end of the day, we’ll have properly elected leaders.”

    She said Abure could still contest in a fresh election if he wants to lead the party again, accusing him of trying to cling to power through the courts.

    “Even Julius Abure, if he still wants to remain chairman, could go through the election,” she said.

    “But he doesn’t want to go through the election — his NWC, they don’t want to go through the election.

    “They just want to be using the courts to remain as leaders. I think that’s not good for the opposition.”

    It will be recalled that the LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Abure and his allies on one hand, and the caretaker committee led by Usman on the other.

    The Usman committee is backed by Obi, Otti, and Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    In April, the Supreme Court ruled that the court of appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce the Abure chairman of the LP.

    Since the verdict, there have been various interpretations of the apex court’s pronouncement, with all factions claiming victory.

    On May 7, the Abure-led faction suspended Otti and Kingibe indefinitely over alleged anti-party activities.

    On May 9, the Usman-led faction suspended Abure and accused him of illegally parading himself as the national chairman of the party despite being removed by the court.

  • Abia Rep dismisses LP’s suspension, reaffirms support for Otti

    Abia Rep dismisses LP’s suspension, reaffirms support for Otti

    The member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah, has dismissed his recent suspension by the Labour Party as inconsequential.

    He said it will not deter his allegiance to Abia Governor Alex Otti.

    Ogah, one of six prominent members suspended by the party over alleged anti-party activities, described the move as politically motivated and lacking substance. 

    He maintained that his focus remains on delivering on his legislative responsibilities and backing the progressive leadership in Abia.

    “The so-called suspension is a joke taken too far. It is nothing more than a distraction orchestrated by those unsettled by the positive changes taking place under Governor Otti’s leadership,” Ogah said on Wednesday.

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    He emphasised that his mandate came from the people and no internal party politics could shake his commitment to their welfare and the development agenda of the current state administration.

    “I remain solidly behind Governor Alex Otti. He is redefining governance in Abia State, bringing hope, transparency, and development. No amount of intimidation will derail this movement,” he declared.

    Ogah also urged supporters and constituents to stay focused, assuring them that he remains undistracted in his mission to provide effective representation and champion their interests.

    The Labour Party’s disciplinary committee had recommended the suspension of Ogah, Governor Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, and Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, citing anti-party conduct. 

    Ogah said despite the party’s position his loyalty with the people who entrusted him with their mandate and the leadership committed to genuine change.