Fresh details have emerged as the reason why the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State flatly rejected the move Governor Alex Otti to rejoin the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What many had dismissed as political rumor has now been confirmed top party sources and the revelations are both damning and deeply revealing about the true state of governance in Abia.
According to a national officer of the APC from Abia, Governor Otti’s frantic attempts to return to the ruling party were not only rebuffed but discussed extensively at a meeting held in Enugu party leadership shortly before the reception of Governor Peter Mba. He revealed that Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, a former Governor and a serving minister were part of those who intervened on his behalf but the partys leadership both at the state and national outrightly rejected Otti’s plea insisting that he can no longer be trusted neither the APC nor the Abia people he governs.
He cited his opaque governance and questionable spending as part of the reasons why he is being rejected. according party insiders one of the major reasons for the rejection was Governor Otti’s persistent lack of transparency in the management of state finances. The APC leadership is said to have demanded a full disclosure of the ₦6.7 billion written off from the state’s purse for a so-called “recreational facility” that, to date, cannot be found anywhere in Abia. another alarming revelation is the ₦54 billion the Otti’s government claimed to have invested in constructing “smart schools” across the state according to him the schools appear to exist only on paper. Despite repeated inquiries from Abians, interest groups and even journalists, no verifiable evidence of such massive educational infrastructure has been produced or seen anywhere in Abia state.
The APC leadership also expressed concern on his governments reckless and unaccountable management of the state’s monthly revenue.
With over ₦38 billion entering Abia’s coffers each month, thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fiscal reforms, the party questions why retirees are forced to fraudulently sign off their gratuities and workers continue to suffer poor welfare conditions.
“Abia receives more money today than at any time in its history, yet the people are poorer and our local governments areas looks abandoned,” “The government cannot account for the money, and his administration operates like a private company, secretive, self-serving, and answerable to no one.”
Another tough condition reportedly set the APC before considering Otti’s return was that he must obey President Tinubu’s earlier directive to return to the official Government House in Umuahia, which he had abandoned and has been operating from his private residence in Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South.
The party frowned at his refusal to obey the presidents instruction to return to the official government house and that has put a question mark on his acclaimed loyalty to President Tinubu, they also recalled his earlier days in Government where his government refused to use Tinubu’s portraits in government offices, they argued that “If he can defy a sitting president’s directive, what assurance does the party have that he will obey party structures if reabsorbed?”
It was revealed that in recent months, Governor Otti has made at least two desperate visits to Enugu state, where he met with Governor Mbah shortly before his defection to the ruling APC, in what insiders describe as “bridge-building talks” aimed at smoothing Otti’s way back to the APC. But the move has backfired. Instead of opening doors, it has exposed his desperation to find political cover ahead of 2027, a clear sign that he no longer enjoys the confidence of Abians, the APC leadership, is convinced that Governor Otti’s political base has crumbled with the Labour Party suspending his membership and that his performance in office has been far below expectation. “He knows he can’t win a free and fair election in Abia again, that’s why he’s begging to return to the APC, but the party seems to want nothing to do with him.
The APC’s message is unambiguous, Governor Otti must first clean up his record before even dreaming of political acceptance. He must make public the cost of his projects, settle all outstanding entitlements to pensioners, release local government funds to the elected chairmen and come clean on the alleged misuse of funds meant for development.
APC Party leaders insist that Abia cannot continue to suffer under a leadership that prioritizes propaganda and media validation over performance and secrecy over service.
They vowed that the APC, riding on the achievements of President Bola Tinubu and the credibility of Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, will win convincingly and take over Abia State through the ballot box in 2027.
The party insisted that part of the reasons why he is rejected and isolated in the southeast when other governors are aligned to the center is that his government is shrouded in opacity, riddled with inconsistencies, and defined unfulfilled promises.
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