Former Third Republic Senator, Emma Nwaka, has endorsed the re-election bid of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for a second term in office, citing the Governor’s performance and developmental strides as justification for continued support.
Sen. Nwaka, a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), made his position known in a statement titled “This Is My Stand”, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, as political activities and permutations ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum across the country.
Sen.Emma Nwaka
The former senator said he was compelled to publicly state his position following persistent enquiries from supporters and political associates who were seeking clarity over his attendance at some Labour Party events in Abia State despite his membership of the APC.
While affirming his support for the APC’s position that the governorship should remain in Abia Central Senatorial District in 2027, Sen. Nwaka said Governor Otti’s performance had convinced him that the governor deserved a second term.
He added that the Otti led administration has restored pride among Abians and placed the state on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.
According to him, “By every political metric conceivable, his first term has ushered in a season of unprecedented infrastructural development in every corner of the state.
“I believe that another four years of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR as governor would have established Abia State on a trajectory of irreversible economic growth and development”, Sen Nwaka stated.
The former senator particularly lauded Governor’ Otti’s impact on Isuikwuato Local Government Area, his home constituency, arguing that the administration had delivered more development and appointments to the area than any previous government since the creation of Abia State.
“As a son of Isuikwuato, I can attest that Dr. Otti’s administration has done so much for my local government than any other government since the creation of Abia State, whether in terms of infrastructural development or appointments”, he said.
Sen Nwaka argued that denying Gov Otti a second term could upset the state’s power-sharing arrangement and potentially delay the return of governorship power to Abia North, particularly the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi axis.
“At the end of Dr. Otti’s tenure in 2031, power is expected to revert to Abia North, precisely to Isuikwuato/Umunneochi axis.
“If we deny Dr. Alex Otti a second term and bring in a new person from Abia Central, it means that Abia North might have to wait for all of twelve years to take over the reins of power”, he said.
Sen. Nwaka also dismissed any suggestion that his position was motivated by personal political ambition, stressing that he had no intention of contesting the governorship election in 2031.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me quickly be clear that I have no intention to run for governorship of Abia State in 2031”, he stated.
Sen Nwaka however urged political stakeholders from Isuikwuato and Umunneochi to begin preparing for the future, noting that political power must be strategically negotiated through alliances and consultations.
At the national level, Nwaka declared his support for President Tinubu’s re-election, citing what he described as the administration’s efforts to revive the Nigerian economy and reform governance structures.
The APC stalwart expressed confidence that the benefits of the Federal Government’s economic reforms would eventually be felt across the country.
“I believe that before long, the trickle-down effect of his bold and courageous economic reforms will kick in and shall begin to be felt by the generality of Nigerians,” he added.
Sen. Nwaka specifically defended the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, describing both policies as necessary measures that had reduced corruption and improved the environment for business planning and investment.
He also called for constructive criticism of government policies rather than outright condemnation, arguing that governance is an evolving process that requires continuous adjustment and improvement.
“We must do away with the penchant to throw away the baby with the bathwater. No government, anywhere in the world is a paragon of rectitude. Government is work in progress, you adjust and fine tune your policies as you move along to align with societal expectations”, he said.
