The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has strongly condemned Governor Alex Otti for allegedly relocating government activities and meetings to his private residence at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, instead of the state capital, Umuahia.
The party described the practice as unconstitutional and warned that all policies and decisions taken at the governor’s private home are “null and void” and unacceptable to the APC.
State APC Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, made the declaration while addressing party members during an empowerment programme organised by Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr. in Obingwa Local Government Area to mark his birthday.
Chukwu alleged that the continued hosting of government functions at the Nvosi residence has negatively affected economic activities and livelihoods in Umuahia, the recognised seat of power.
“The Governor has taken the Abia State Government House away from Umuahia and killed lives and economic activities. He is promising that he will build a five-star hotel in Umuahia after taking away the Government House to his bedroom. Is that governance? No,” Chukwu said.
He insisted that the first priority should be the immediate return of the Government House to Umuahia, stressing that “Government House can’t be in somebody’s bedroom.”
The APC chairman noted that previous governors — Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Theodore Orji, and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu — each served for eight years with the Government House remaining in Umuahia.
“Every decision made in the Governor’s bedroom at Nvosi is null and void, because that place isn’t a seat of power,” he added.
Chukwu also reacted to a recent reception organised for the governor by some Umuahia residents who reportedly promised him 60% of their votes in future elections.
“When a sitting governor meets his people and they say we will give 60% of our votes, where will the 40% go? It means they have already acknowledged failure,” he said.
He boasted that the APC has not yet begun campaigning but is already confident of strong support, particularly in Obingwa Council and Abia South Senatorial Zone.
Chukwu thanked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what he described as accepting a “rainbow coalition” and urged the APC to prepare handover notes, claiming time is no longer on the side of the current administration.
Earlier at the event, the celebrant and member representing Obingwa West in the Abia State House of Assembly, Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr., said the distribution of 150 motorcycles, 15 vehicles and other empowerment items was aimed at improving the economic wellbeing of beneficiaries, urging them to use the support to grow their businesses and families.
