Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, has declared that he will not be distracted or discouraged until he completes what he described as his “God-given mission” in the state.
Otti made the remarks on Monday when he received former Deputy Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Dr Jasper Uche, at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
Uche, founder of the Ihe Abia Organisation, recently defected from the PDP to the Labour Party alongside his supporters.
The governor said he was encouraged by Uche’s support and commitment, noting that his administration remains focused on delivering results for the people of Abia State.
“We have a mission, and until that mission is completed, we won’t stop,” Otti said. “We will not give up. We will not be distracted.”
He emphasised that his administration’s resilience has remained unchanged despite earlier electoral setbacks, adding that he believes the current mandate reflects divine purpose.
“One thing that is important is that we must always recognise the place of God. If God has designed something, nobody can obliterate it,” he said.
Otti also expressed openness to receiving new members into the Labour Party and directed officials to facilitate the integration of Uche and his supporters, particularly in Umunneochi Local Government Area.
He stressed that his administration maintains a welcoming political approach, saying, “We are very open to receiving people. We are all Igbo people, and we are very hospitable too.”
In his remarks, Dr Jasper Uche said his decision to align with Otti was driven by what he described as visible and people-focused achievements of the administration across the state.
He said his group would work to strengthen support for Otti ahead of the 2027 governorship election, pledging to mobilise voters in Umunneochi and beyond.
“We are going to complement the efforts of others to ensure we don’t just double Umunneochi votes—we will triple them in 2027,” Uche said.
He added that his supporters are committed to working in coordination with existing political structures rather than operating in isolation.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners and senior aides, as well as members of the Ihe Abia Organisation.
Political observers say the growing realignment signals early political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections in Abia State.
