Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has formally received the 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Chukwunenye, into the Labour Party (LP).
Dr. Johnson-Chukwunenye, who contested the 2023 Abia governorship election on the SDP platform, joined the Labour Party alongside her supporters at an event held at the party’s state secretariat in Umuahia on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti recalled her participation in the 2023 governorship race, describing her decision to contest for the state’s highest political office, particularly as a woman, as courageous.
The Governor also used the occasion to address questions concerning his political plans beyond the expiration of his tenure in 2031. He said he was not considering a Senate ambition after leaving office and expressed his preference for a transition that would create opportunities for younger people to assume leadership positions.
Otti said his primary concern was to leave behind a legacy of good governance rather than establish a political structure to control who succeeds him.
According to him, the person who eventually succeeds him should be capable of performing better than he has done, while the choice of a successor should involve Abians collectively.
“I don’t want to be a godfather. We will all sit down, look at everybody, and say who is the best person for this job. And then all of us would agree and we will campaign for him,” Otti said.
The Governor added that he intends to retire from active politics after completing his tenure and wants younger Nigerians to have greater opportunities to participate in leadership.
His comments are consistent with reports from the event that Otti has ruled out a Senate bid after 2031 and does not intend to control Abia politics after leaving office.
Speaking on his administration’s development agenda, Otti said the government’s interventions were being implemented through deliberate planning and prioritisation rather than attempting to address every challenge simultaneously.
He noted that the administration had spent the early part of its tenure concentrating on the restoration of Aba and Umuahia, before expanding infrastructure and other interventions into communities across the state.
“This is just about 39 months. Everything cannot be done in one day, particularly in a place that has been badly managed in the last 24 years. It takes a lot of time, resources and planning,” the Governor stated.
Otti said the administration had made substantial interventions in Aba and Umuahia and was now extending its attention to the hinterlands.
“The most important areas for us were to restore Aba and Umuahia. And I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that we have literally restored those cities. We are now moving into the hinterlands, and we will continue until we reach everywhere,” he said.
The Governor also commended Johnson-Chukwunenye for bringing children from the School for the Blind to the event, describing concern for vulnerable members of society as an important part of building an inclusive society.
He welcomed her and her supporters into the Labour Party and thanked party leaders, members and supporters for their continued commitment to the administration.
Earlier, Johnson-Chukwunenye explained that her decision to join the Labour Party followed her observation of developments in Abia under the Otti administration.
She cited the payment of salary arrears, regular payment of workers’ salaries, attention to pensioners and the rehabilitation of roads in Aba and Umuahia as some of the factors that influenced her decision.
The former SDP candidate said her assessment of developments in the state convinced her to support the Governor’s administration and align herself with what she described as its vision for a better Abia.
She also highlighted the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road and other roads, alongside government interventions in sanitation and infrastructure, as developments she said had contributed to restoring the dignity of residents.
Johnson-Chukwunenye further said her interest in supporting vulnerable people predates her political involvement, noting that her humanitarian activities and concern for disadvantaged groups began more than 15 years ago.
According to her, the Otti administration’s focus on vulnerable people, young people, women and social inclusion aligns with her humanitarian convictions.
She described her decision as more than simply joining a political party, saying it represents her alignment with what she termed the Governor’s “Greater Light” vision for Abia.
Her decision to join the Labour Party comes amid broader political realignments in Abia ahead of the 2027 elections, with reports also documenting support for Otti from other former 2023 governorship contenders.
The event concluded with the formal presentation of the Labour Party flag to Johnson-Chukwunenye, marking her official entry into the party.
ALSO READ: Tinubu Advances Digital Free Zones Plan, Targets Global Capital and Jobs for Nigerians
The development adds another dimension to Abia’s evolving political landscape as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, while Governor Otti has simultaneously begun outlining how he expects political succession to unfold after his tenure in 2031.
