Eighty-five political appointees of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, from Ukwa La Ngwa have cautioned politicians against using ethnic sentiments to malign the people of the zone, urging them to support the state government’s development agenda.
The appointees made the call at a press conference organised by Ukwa La Ngwa appointees serving in the Otti administration at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the leader of the appointees and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, said the press conference was convened to address what he described as negative narratives and clannish sentiments directed at the governor and his administration.
He attributed the criticisms to Governor Otti’s resolve to demystify governance and lead the state with transparency and accountability.
Pastor Ajagba noted that the condition of Abia State before the emergence of the Otti administration was widely known to Abians, Nigerians and the international community.
He said the governor’s commitment to ensuring that the state’s resources were used for its development had attracted opposition from individuals who were uncomfortable with the administration’s approach to governance.
According to him, three years would not be sufficient to reverse the consequences of 24 years of poor governance and maladministration in the state.
The Chief of Staff accused those who presided over previous administrations of criticising the current government while it worked to address the challenges they allegedly left behind.
He maintained that the Otti administration would not be distracted by political attacks, stressing that its priority remained the restoration of good governance and the development of Abia State.
Pastor Ajagba called for issue-based political campaigns, urging politicians to focus on policies and programmes capable of addressing the challenges confronting the state rather than resorting to ethnic sentiments and personal attacks.
He said the future of Abia State and the collective interests of its citizens should not be sacrificed for the personal ambitions of a few politicians.
The Chief of Staff further explained that appointments under the Otti administration were based on integrity, capacity, capability and merit, noting that the government’s adherence to these principles had attracted criticism from some quarters.
He also maintained that Abia had recorded progress in various sectors and was attracting increasing attention, urging political actors not to undermine the state’s development because of political differences.
Pastor Ajagba assured that the administration remained focused on its development agenda and would continue to discharge its responsibilities to the people. He said the press conference was organised to clarify what the appointees considered misleading narratives against the government.
Reading an eight-point resolution endorsed by the appointees, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the 85 political appointees and nine mayors from Ukwa La Ngwa had endorsed the resolutions.
Prince Nwachukwu expressed concern over what he described as disjointed and politically motivated narratives circulating on social media, particularly claims suggesting that the people of Ukwa La Ngwa were opposed to the Otti administration.
He warned politicians against denigrating the people of the zone for political gains, affirming that the appointees fully identified with the governor’s vision, policies and development agenda.
The commissioner said the appointees would resist any attempt by individuals or groups to undermine the relationship between the people of Ukwa La Ngwa and Governor Otti.
He described arguments questioning the governor’s Ngwa identity as unfortunate, insisting that his place of birth and ancestral connections could not be erased by political narratives.
Prince Nwachukwu also maintained that sons and daughters of Ukwa La Ngwa were adequately represented in the present administration and were making meaningful contributions to the state’s development.
While acknowledging the right of citizens to express political opinions and engage in constructive criticism, he cautioned against using the Ukwa La Ngwa political platform to pursue personal ambitions at the expense of the zone’s collective interests.
He urged the people of the area to remain calm and allow the administration to continue its development efforts, calling on those campaigning against the governor to refrain from introducing unnecessary sub-ethnic sentiments into their political activities.
The commissioner also expressed concern over what he described as the use of traditional practices during political campaigns, alleging that some individuals had poured alcoholic drinks as libations at campaign grounds.
He condemned the alleged practice, describing it as inappropriate, and said the appointees would not remain silent over activities they considered detrimental to the collective interests of Abia State.
Prince Nwachukwu reaffirmed the appointees’ continued and unwavering support for Governor Otti, urging politicians to conduct their activities responsibly and avoid insults and personal attacks that could undermine the state’s interests.
Among the appointees present at the press conference were the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu; Director of Publicity of the Labour Party Governorship Campaign Council, Barrister Onyebuchi Ememanka; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Dr Ebere Uzoukwa; and Senior Special Assistant on Transportation, Dr Obioma Nwogbe.
