2027: No cabal ‘ll decide Abia’s political destiny – Wabara

2026-01-30 - 19:39

. As Ukwa La Ngwa endorse Otti for 2nd term, donate N100m for nomination form. By Steve Oko Former Senate President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has declared that no individual, group or cabal would be allowed to determine the political destiny of Abia State in 2027. This is as stakeholders in the Ukwa la Ngwa nation, comprising nine local government areas, have formally endorsed Gov. Alex Otti for a second term in office and donated N100 million to secure his nomination. Senator Wabara, who chaired a grand civic reception by his Ukwa la Ngwa kinsmen in honour of the governor on Friday at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, said only Abia voters, through the ballot, would decide who governs the state in 2027. Apparently reacting to recent threats by a coalition of former Abia governors to block Otti’s second-term bid and deliver the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wabara said the era of a few individuals imposing leaders on the people was “irretrievably gone”. “Leadership must be earned through competence, credibility and track record—not imposed through manipulation and selfish interests,” he said. “Let me state categorically and without equivocation: the Governor must not be distracted or intimidated by any coalition of desperate forces plotting to derail his second-term ambition if he decides to recontest. “No individual, group or cabal possesses the divine right to determine the political destiny of Abia State. The future of Governor Alex Otti in 2027 will be decided solely by Abia voters—freely, fairly and democratically.” Wabara warned that any attempt to subvert the will of the people would be resisted. “Abians will never again surrender their mandate to any cabal. The old order is gone—irretrievably gone. No self-overrated individual or group can force Abia back into political bondage,” he declared. He added that Abians had chosen “light over darkness, truth over deception, and performance over propaganda,” insisting that the era of political brigandage was over. Commending Governor Otti’s performance, Wabara renewed his call on the governor to consider returning to the PDP ahead of 2027, citing unresolved leadership crises within the Labour Party. “The PDP, with its national reach, tested structure and experience, offers a stronger and more stable platform for consolidating the gains of this administration,” he said. Wabara also recalled his earlier position on the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, describing the road as an economic lifeline abandoned for decades. “The completion of that iconic project has silenced the propagandists. Their lies have collapsed under the weight of truth, and their arrogance has been deflated by performance,” he stated. Speaking earlier, the leader of the Ukwa La Ngwa nation, Elder Theo Nkire, said Governor Otti had raised the bar of governance through visible and impactful projects across the state. Nkire pledged the unwavering support of the Ukwa La Ngwa people for Otti in 2027, urging him not to be distracted by political opposition. Similarly, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, announced the decision of Ukwa La Ngwa to purchase a return ticket for the governor, noting his achievements in infrastructure, health education, and other sectors. “Even the blind can see that the Governor has done well,” Emeruwa said. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) described Otti as a pace-setter in governance, urging him to continue his developmental strides, which he said had endeared him to the people. Mocking those describing Otti as a ‘road painter’, Abaribe said Abians were pleased with his choice of paints and urged him to ‘paint more roads’. Speaking also, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, described Otti as “God-sent”, assuring him of massive support from Abians benefiting from his projects. In his response, Governor Otti thanked the Ukwa La Ngwa people for the reception, endorsement and support. “This is your government, and your interest will always come first,” he said, adding that opposition to his administration was driven by selfish interests. The governor announced the completion of Ovom Road in Aba and disclosed that more projects would soon be flagged off in the city, including the reconstruction of Enyimba Hotel into a five-star facility to be managed by Radisson Blu. “Our style is not to flag off and abandon projects. We want the hotel to start functioning by next year,” Otti said. He urged Aba residents to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that voter turnout in the city did not reflect its population strength. “The only way to show your strength is to mobilise people to register and vote,” he said, also calling on residents to remain vigilant and safeguard their communities. The stadium was filled to the brim as the Ukwa la Ngwa people thronged out in their numbers to grace the glamorous event that almost paralysed commercial activities around the stadium.