By Okey Ikechukwu
Unseating an incumbent governor is never about noise, threats, or political alliances alone. In Abia State, the conversation around removing Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 elections has reignited a familiar debate: performance versus promises.
For those openly declaring their intention to unseat Otti, the task before them is straightforward but demanding. Abia people are not asking for rhetoric. They want evidence. Anyone seeking power must clearly show what they achieved during their time in office, explain how those achievements surpassed what is currently on ground, and convincingly argue why they deserve another opportunity.
Politics, like nature, has clear distinctions. Titles and ambitions do not automatically translate into capacity. History has taught Abians that leadership is defined by results, not by self-comparison or inflated reputations. Performance is the true separator.
Recent moves by a coalition of former political office holders, including high-profile figures within the APC, have added drama to Abia’s political space. Their stated aim is to form a united front to remove Governor Otti in 2027. Among their strategies is a proposed legal challenge questioning the governor’s choice of residence while in office an argument many observers see as disconnected from the daily realities faced by citizens.
What stands out, however, is the contrast between past governance and present realities. Several of the voices now calling for change governed Abia during periods marked by neglected infrastructure, abandoned roads, and public frustration. Yet there has been little acknowledgment or apology for those years. In contrast, Otti’s administration has been defined by visible projects, including aggressive road rehabilitation, urban renewal, and efforts to restore Aba’s economic vitality even to the point where the governor has apologized to residents for inconveniences caused by ongoing construction.
Governor Otti himself has remained publicly unfazed. He has repeatedly emphasized that his priority is governance, not political distraction, maintaining that development and service delivery will speak louder than political maneuvering as 2027 approaches.
Beyond infrastructure, Otti’s background as a seasoned banker and economist has shaped his approach to leadership. His record in the private sector established him as a reformer focused on transparency, efficiency, and value creation. In government, these principles have translated into tighter financial management, reduced waste, civil service reforms, and renewed investor confidence in Abia State.
Education, sanitation, SME support, and institutional reforms have further strengthened public trust. Aba’s gradual reemergence as a commercial hub and the renewed focus on professionalism in public service are developments many residents say they never thought possible a few years ago.
For critics hoping to unseat Alex Otti, the challenge is not merely political organization it is credibility. Abia voters are increasingly measuring leaders by tangible outcomes, not by alliances or press statements. Attempting to dislodge a sitting governor with a strong performance record, without presenting a superior alternative backed by proven results, may prove to be an uphill battle.
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In the end, leadership is its own campaign message. And in Abia today, Governor Alex Otti’s record continues to do much of the talking.