Ahead of the 2027 general election, an All Progressives Congress (APC) group has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by Governor Alex Otti to ensure that President Bola Tinubu loses Abia State.
The group, Abia APC Youth Movement, said the sole aim of the governor in the alleged ill-advised plot is to disgrace his predecessors and other APC bigwigs in the state who are fighting against his re-election.
The group, in a statement in Umuahia signed by the Chairman, Comrade Thadeus Nkire, and the Secretary, Chief John Akobundu, noted that despite the public pledge by Otti to support Tinubu’s re-election, the governor was allegedly plotting his defeat to get back at his APC traducers in Abia.
“We have credible intelligence that the governor has instructed all his appointees, especially local government chairmen and councillors, to ensure that Tinubu and the APC do not win in their wards. They have been promised logistics to actualise that directive,” the group insisted.
It further disclosed that other body language of the governor points to greater hostility against the APC led by Tinubu, such as the persecution and intimidation of APC chieftains in the state.
According to the group, apart from denying the APC public spaces to mount their campaigns, traditional rulers have been asked to mount hate campaigns against the president and his party just to make sure that the APC loses Abia State in all the elections next year.
The group, therefore, called on all leaders in the APC to work together to thwart the alleged plot by the governor and ensure that Tinubu and the APC win convincingly in Abia State.
According to the group, since all the political heavyweights in Abia State are now domiciled in the APC, defeating Otti will be a child’s play only if they put their egos and differences aside and work together for the triumph of Tinubu and the APC.
“We are aware of plans by the state government to rig the election by manipulating the electoral process, so now is the time for our leaders to checkmate Otti,” it asserted.
It said it would be a tragedy if the APC, which controls the federal government and boasts notable personalities in Abia, loses the state in 2027.
The group dismissed rumours allegedly sponsored by the state government that Tinubu has promised Alex Otti support in 2027.
“That is not correct. Tinubu, as a principled and loyal party man who is the leader of the APC in Nigeria, cannot support an opposition governor against the APC. We have heard of what happened in Anambra State. It cannot happen here. We know we will surely have the support of Mr President in this battle to reclaim Abia for the APC,” the group declared.
“We have Senator Orji Kalu, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Rt Hon Stanley Ohajuruka, Chief Ikechi Emenike, Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha, Rep Sam Onuigbo, Chief Emeka Atuma, Chief Paul Ikonne, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, and several others who are poised to invest their resources and talent to ensure that they win Abia State for Mr President in 2027,” it insisted.
The group called on Abia residents to embrace the APC as the party of the future, saying they cannot afford to remain in opposition.
The group described Tinubu as a compassionate leader who has done a lot for the people of the South-East, irrespective of the fact that the zone did not vote for the APC in 2023.
It lamented that Governor Alex Otti has consistently refused to acknowledge Tinubu as the man behind the success of his administration because of the quantum of money being released to the state.
According to the group, Tinubu’s economic reforms have resulted in states having more money for development and a reduction in food prices.
“Alex Otti will never give credit to Tinubu and the APC for the economic boom. He will arrogantly take credit. Abia people should be aware of what Tinubu has done for the state for them to appreciate Mr President and reward him with votes in 2027,” the group submitted.
