By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA—In a development that may reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Abia State, prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, has openly endorsed Governor Alex Otti for a second term in office.

Nwaka who represented Abia North in the 3rd Republic, declared that despite being a card-carrying member of the APC, he would support Otti’s re-election bid based on what he described as the governor’s outstanding performance and transformational leadership.

In a statement titled “This Is My Stand,” Nwaka said Otti’s administration had delivered unprecedented infrastructural development across Abia and restored the pride of Abians at home and in the diaspora.

“I am all for supporting Dr Alex Otti to do a second term of four years as governor,” Nwaka declared.

According to him, “By every political metric conceivable, his first term has ushered in a season of unprecedented infrastructural development in every corner of the state.”

The APC stalwart said Otti’s achievements transcend partisan politics and should be rewarded with another mandate to consolidate the gains already recorded.

He argued that another four years for the governor would place Abia on “a trajectory of irreversible economic growth and development.”

Nwaka, who hails from Isuikwuato Local Government Area, said the Otti administration had done more for his community than any government since the creation of Abia State.

“As a son of Isuikwuato, I can attest that Dr Otti’s administration has done so much for my local government than any other government since the creation of Abia State, whether in terms of infrastructural development or appointments,” he stated.

The former PDP chairman urged politicians from Isuikwuato and Umunneochi to shelve personal ambitions and support Otti’s second-term bid, arguing that the move would ultimately benefit Abia North.

He noted that under the state’s power rotation arrangement, the governorship is expected to return to Abia North in 2031 after Otti’s second term.

“If we deny Dr Alex Otti a second term and bring in a new person from Abia Central, it means that Abia North might have to wait for all of twelve years to take over the reins of power,” he said.

Nwaka stressed that his position was not driven by personal ambition, declaring that he had no intention of contesting the governorship in 2031.

The veteran politician also threw his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying the President inherited a struggling economy and deserved another term to consolidate ongoing reforms.

“At the Federal level, I am working for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said, expressing confidence that the benefits of the administration’s economic reforms would soon be felt by ordinary Nigerians.

Nwaka’s endorsement of Otti is expected to generate fresh political conversations within the APC and across Abia’s political spectrum, coming at a time political realignments and permutations ahead of the 2027 elections are gathering momentum.