Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on Stakeholders of Ukwa La Ngwa to embark on a vigorous mobilisation of all eligible citizens yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) within the bloc, to register ahead of future elections.
Governor Otti made appeal on Friday, at the Enyimba International Stadium Aba, during a Grand Civic Reception held in his honour by the 9 Local Government Areas of the Ukwa La Ngwa bloc.
The Governor noted that such exercise is critical for the bloc to fully demonstrate its actual voting strength and influence in the democratic process.
He expressed concern over the disparity between the population of Aba, the State’s commercial nerve centre and its recorded voter turnout during elections.
Gov Otti
Governor Otti argued that the current voter register does not reflect the true demographic weight and political potential of Aba, noting that the strength of the populace could only be fully realised through formal participation in the democratic process.
“The number of people in Aba is ten times larger than the number of votes that come from Aba, so the only way to show your strength is to go to all the nooks and crannies around you and get people to come and register”, he said .
Mammoth crowd at the event
Governor Otti thanked the Ukwa la Ngwa people for the civic reception in his honour, describing the”intimidating”, mammoth crowd which included prominent figures such as former Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Dr. Uche Ogah of the APC, Senator Enyi Abaribe of APGA and former Senate President Senator Adolphus Wabara of the PDP, amongst others as a cross-partisan endorsement of his administration.
He announced that the commissioning of the newly completed Ovom Road, has been scheduled for the 25th of February, adding that the same date would also serve as the official flag-off for the reconstruction of the iconic Enyimba Hotel to a 5 star International standard by Radisson Blu.
In their separate speeches the Senator Representing Abia South Senatorial District, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe on behalf of Stakeholders from the nine Local Government Areas of Ukwa La Ngwa and the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha said that Governor Otti has fundamentally transformed the State’s narrative across all sectors and deserves the full support of every citizen.
Sen Darlington Nwokocha Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe
They described the reception as an expression of public love and acceptance for the Governor, noting that that the Governor has by every measure, redefined governance in Abia State.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Adolphus Wabara described the reception as a united, non-partisan and the people’s verdict in honour of the Governor whose performance is built on verifiable achievements rather than propaganda.
Sen. Adolphus Wabara
He sated that the mammoth crowd was “organic, spontaneous, and genuine,” which represents citizens who have seen and felt the dividends of purposeful leadership.
Senator Wabara noted that the visible transformation across the state, exemplified by the timely completion of the Port Harcourt Road in Aba had permanently silenced the present administration’s detractors.
He said that the era of imposing leaders on Abians is over and urged the Governor not to be distracted by forces plotting against his second-term ambition, adding that “the future of Governor Otti in 2027 will be decided solely by Abia voters”.
Sen Wabara urged the Governor to consider a return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he said offers a stronger and more stable platform for consolidating the gains of his administration in 2027.
In his address, the leader and spokesperson of the Ukwa La Ngwa people, Chief Theo Nkire, declared the event as celebration of a landmark achiever for the Ukwa Ngwa nationhighlighted that Dr. Alex Otti has, in record time, revolutionized all sectors of public life, notably transforming Aba from a modest trading center into a burgeoning world-class industrial hub.
Chief Theo Nkire (centre))
Chief Nkire further appealed to all Abians beyond the Ukwa Ngwa region to view their kin through a lens of shared progress. He emphasized that the story of the Ukwa Ngwa people is one built on courage, determination, and tangible achievement, now reflected in the state’s ongoing renaissance under Governor Otti’s administration.
The event featured the formal endorsement of Governor Otti for the 2027 elections by the Ukwa la Ngwa Steering Committee, led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa. The committee also announced a pledge of 100 million Naira in support of the Governor re-election.
