December 20, 2025 l By Dalena Reporters
Umuahia, Abia State — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has denied claims that his recent visit to the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre was driven by political ambition. Speaking on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Government House in Umuahia, Otti said his actions were motivated by a desire to promote peace, dialogue, and stability, rather than personal political advancement.
Otti’s clarification came while receiving members of the Abia Diaspora Commission and the medical team of the Global Medical Mission 2025, amidst a trending video circulating on social media criticizing his prison visit as a political maneuver. The governor stressed that differences of opinion are inherent in democratic discourse and that opposing views do not inherently reflect the truth.
“One of the issues raised in the video was my ambition after serving as governor. I have said this before…I will retire from public office by the time I complete my tenure,” Otti said, reaffirming his long-held stance to exit active politics following his governorship.
The governor reiterated that peace and stability remain essential to the development of Abia State and the broader South-East region. He emphasized that dialogue and engagement, rather than confrontation, are necessary to resolve lingering political and security challenges.
On November 30, 2025, Governor Otti visited Nnamdi Kanu — leader of the IPOB at the Sokoto Correctional Centre, a move that sparked controversy across Nigeria’s political landscape. Footage obtained by Sahara Reporters showed a heavy security presence around the prison facility during the visit.
Kanu was convicted earlier on November 21, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja on multiple terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment on four counts, with additional sentences on other counts. Within hours of the ruling, he was transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja to the Sokoto facility a transfer that has generated debate and concern among various stakeholders.
Responding to the criticism, Otti strongly denied that his prison visit was an attempt to position himself for higher political office. He reiterated that he has no intention of contesting for the presidency, vice-presidency, or any other elective position after completing his term as governor a position corroborated by multiple news outlets covering his statement.
“My mission is to serve, and when I deliver that mission, I will step aside and give room to younger people,” the governor said, underscoring his commitment to public service rather than career political ambition. Critics, he argued, have frequently misinterpreted his actions through a political lens that he believes distorts the true intent of constructive engagement.
The visit has elicited mixed reactions: while some view Otti’s actions as an effort to foster dialogue and reconciliation, others question the optics of a sitting governor engaging directly with a polarizing figure like Kanu, especially given the sensitive security and political context surrounding IPOB’s proscription and Kanu’s conviction.
No official statement from the Federal Government or the Sokoto Correctional authorities has yet addressed the broader implications of the visit. However, the Sokoto State Government earlier clarified that its governor did not accompany Otti during the visit and was abroad at the time, dispelling misreporting about joint involvement.
Governor Otti’s detailed response seeks to reposition his controversial Sokoto visit within the framework of peace-building and democratic engagement, distancing it from speculations of political ambition. As discourse around national unity, security policy, and regional representation continues, this episode underscores the complex interplay between governance, dialogue, and public perception in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.