(DDM) – Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has issued a stern warning to those allegedly plotting to manipulate the 2027 governorship election results, declaring that anyone attempting to subvert the people’s will should “write their wills first.”
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Governor Otti made the statement on Thursday, October 16, during an interaction with journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where he also dismissed rumours of his defection from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor clarified that he remains firmly committed to the Labour Party and has no intention of joining the ruling APC, despite widespread defections sweeping through opposition ranks nationwide.
Reacting to speculations about possible election manipulation in 2027, Otti said he was neither intimidated nor fearful of any such plans, warning that Abia State would not tolerate electoral fraud.
“I have heard that some people are boasting that they must take over the state and write the results,” Otti stated.
“The only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should first write something else before that time, their wills.”
He stressed that the people of Abia were determined to defend their mandate and would resist any attempt to undermine democracy in the state.
“This is our state, and nobody can intimidate us,” he added. “But having said that, we must maintain peace and decorum.”
Otti’s remarks come amid rising political tensions between him and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who had earlier declared that the APC was preparing to reclaim Abia State from the Labour Party.
Kalu had alleged that Otti’s administration benefited from federal support under President Bola Tinubu’s APC government and questioned the funding sources of some of the state’s infrastructural projects.
The Deputy Speaker told his supporters that while Governor Otti’s performance had attracted commendation, it was important for him to clarify whether the state’s development strides were financed independently or through the influence of the federal government.
Governor Otti, however, dismissed Kalu’s comments as politically motivated, insisting that his administration’s achievements were the product of prudent management and transparent governance.
He reiterated his commitment to the welfare of Abians and vowed to continue his people-centred policies without bowing to political pressure or blackmail.
Political observers note that Otti’s warning underscores growing concerns about electoral interference ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in opposition-controlled states.
The Abia governor’s defiance has drawn applause from supporters of the Labour Party, who say his bold leadership has redefined governance in the state through transparency, infrastructural development, and accountability.
As political alignments begin to shift ahead of 2027, Otti’s firm stance signals that the coming election in Abia may become one of the fiercest political contests in the South-East.
