January 11, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
UMUAHIA, Abia State — Reverend Father Christian Anokwuru, the Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has called on former governors and opposition leaders in the state to cease invoking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name in criticism of the current administration and instead highlight their own past accomplishments.
Anokwuru made the remarks on Sunday in response to threats by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and other opposition figures, who have vowed to make Governor Otti a one-term leader and deliver Abia State into the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election. He described such political attacks as unconstructive and rooted in “bitterness and personal resentment.”
Addressing journalists in Umuahia, the cleric said it would be more credible for the opposition to base its arguments on “their own achievements, not on the borrowed influence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” arguing that relying on proximity to the federal government highlights a lack of substantive critique of Otti’s performance.
Anokwuru defended Governor Otti’s record, asserting that the administration’s developmental initiatives have outpaced previous governments and have already earned national and international recognition for good governance. He also dismissed claims about political zoning specifically the assertion that it should be Abia North’s turn to produce the next governor saying voters are now prioritising performance and character over regional considerations.
The aide cautioned opposition figures to abandon what he called “vendetta politics” and avoid fueling animosity between Governor Otti and President Tinubu, urging political rivals to concentrate on policies that would benefit Abia residents.
His comments come amid growing political mobilisation in Abia ahead of the 2027 elections, with competing factions attempting to shape the narrative around leadership, governance performance and party loyalty. Analysts say this exchange highlights deeper tensions within the state’s political landscape as stakeholders seek to define relevance and leadership vision ahead of the next electoral cycle.