No law says I must operate from govt house, Otti replies predecessors

By Steve Oko

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that no law mandates that a governor operate from anywhere other than the Government House.

This is as he declared that he is still in the Labour Party “for now”.

The governor, who stated this while responding to questions during a media parley in Umuahia, dared his predecessors who threatened to sue him for operating from his private residence at Nvosi instead of the Government House in Umuahia, to proceed to the court as quickly as they could.

Otti said his lawyers were fully prepared for any legal confrontation on the matter.

“I am waiting to be sued. My lawyers are ready. I have looked at the Constitution and there is nowhere it says I must live in a particular place,” the governor said.

Otti, who is currently rebuilding the Governor’s Lodge as well as a brand new office inside the Government House, said the facility was left in a deplorable condition by past administrations.

“The state in which they left the Government House speaks for itself. I don’t owe anybody an explanation,” he added.

Recall that some of his predecessors – Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Sen. Theodore Orji, and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu – and their loyalists, recently threatened to sue Otti and compel him to relocate to Government House Umuahia.

Meanwhile, the governor announced the extension of the state’s free electric bus service by one month.

He explained that the 20 electric buses, which commenced operations in late December 2025 and were originally scheduled to end free services in January, would now continue to operate free of charge until the end of February 2026.

On the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP), and speculations about his possible defection ahead of the next election, Otti said he remains a member of the party for now.

“I am still in the Labour Party today. Tomorrow is another matter,” he said.

The governor noted that the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Working Committee of the LP had been affirmed by a recent court judgment as the authentic leadership of the party.

“So, the Court judgment confirmed actually that his tenure has expired and advised people to obey court decisions to save the courts from unnecessary troubles.

“We are not in election period. If election comes, we will still run under the Labour Party, but nobody knows tomorrow. But today, I am still in the Labour Party.”

He said the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment had already been transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressing optimism that the electoral umpire would comply accordingly.

Otti urged the former National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, to respect and obey the court ruling.

“We are on the right side of the law. The court affirmed that Abure’s tenure has expired. People must obey court judgments to avoid unnecessary stress on the judiciary,” he said.

“We are not in an election season yet. When elections come, we will still run under the Labour Party. But today, I am a bona fide member of the Labour Party.”

Earlier in his remarks, the governor highlighted key achievements of his administration, particularly in education, infrastructure, and revenue generation.

He said the introduction of free education had led to a significant increase in student enrollment across public schools in the state.

Otti also disclosed that the iconic Omenuko Bridge at the Abam section of the Bende–Ohafia federal road had been completed and was ready for inauguration.

He added that several road projects across the state were progressing steadily, while the contractor handling the Ohafia–Arochukwu Road had been directed to return to the site.

The governor further announced that the expansion of the Lokpanta Cattle Market into a multi-sector commercial hub would soon commence following the State Executive Council’s approval of the project design.

He also revealed plans to digitise the collection of levies from hotels and other hospitality businesses to boost internally generated revenue.

“In the next few months, hotels will be assessed using verified criteria, and with the click of a button, they will receive their rates,” Otti said.

Reaffirming his commitment to good governance, the governor assured Abians of increased infrastructural development, stressing that his overriding goal is to leave the state better than he found it.

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