Governor Alex Otti has received a ₦100 million donation from the Ukwa La Ngwa people of Abia State to purchase the nomination form for his re-election bid.
Njoku Ukoha, the governor’s chief press secretary, confirmed this in a statement made on Saturday.
The donation was unveiled on Friday during a lavish civic reception honoring the governor at Aba’s Enyimba International Stadium.
Emmanuel Emeruwa, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Ukwa La Ngwa Civic Reception and Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, said that the funds were generated jointly and that the group was willing to give more if necessary.
Otti expressed gratitude to the audience for their warm greeting and endorsement.
“The time 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,” he said.
The governor said his administration will continue to promote the interest of the people, underlining that governance in Abia was no longer driven by self-interest.
“One thing you can take home is that because this is your government, your interest will always come first. This is not about party or partisan celebration,” Otti added.
He revealed that Ovom Road would be commissioned on February 25, the same day that Radisson Blu would begin building on the Enyimba Hotel, a five-star facility.
“Our style is not to flag off and go home. We want the five-star hotel to start functioning by next year,” the governor said.
Otti also called on the residents of Aba to register for their Permanent Voter Cards and to take responsibility for security and cleanliness in their neighborhoods.
“The number of people in Aba is ten times larger than the number of votes that come from Aba. The only way to show your strength is to get people to come out and register,” he said.
Speaking to the gathering, Chairman of the occasion and Board of Trustees Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said the event was a reflection of the people’s verdict on Otti’s performance.
“This is not a political party rally; it is a people’s verdict. It is the collective affirmation of the masses to celebrate a man who has demonstrated that good governance is achievable and real.
“Let no one be deceived: Abians will never again surrender their mandate to any cabal. Any attempt to subvert the will of the people in 2027 will be firmly resisted,” Wabara said.
Also addressing the issue, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South and Darlington Nwokocha, National Secretary of the Labour Party, said Otti’s success across sectors had gained him widespread support.
Previously, Chief Theo Nkire, the head and spokesperson of the Ukwa La Ngwa people, praised the governor as “a great achiever” who had transformed Aba into a “world-class industrial hub.”
Traditional rulers from Ukwa La Ngwa also offered their support, and the occasion featured cultural displays and was attended by various dignitaries, including Ginger Onwusibe, who represents the Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Constituency.
