John Nwaigwe
PRESS RELEASE
APC CONDEMNS THE NAMING OF UMUAHIA CENTRAL BUS TERMINAL AFTER PROF. NNENNA OTTI.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter, strongly condemns the decision by Governor Alex Otti to name the newly commissioned Umuahia Central Bus Terminal after Professor Nnenna Otti, describing the action as a reckless endorsement of compromise, conflict of interest, and a dangerous precedent capable of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Professor Nnenna Otti served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 governorship election in Abia State a constitutional responsibility for which she was duly appointed and remunerated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is therefore disturbing and suspicious that a public officer who merely carried out an official assignment is now being immortalized by the very beneficiary of the election outcome she supervised.
This development raises fundamental questions. Was Professor Nnenna Otti the only Returning Officer in Nigeria during the 2023 elections? Were there no ward collation officers, local government collation officers, or other electoral officials who also discharged their duties? Why are the other 35 governors across the federation not naming public monuments after electoral officers assigned to their states if this is truly about integrity and service?
The over-amplification of Professor Nnenna Otti’s role in the Abia election points strongly to an existing relationship and mutual understanding between her and Governor Alex Otti. By this singular act, the governor has exposed what many Abians have long suspected that there existed a hidden nexus capable of compromising the integrity and neutrality expected of an electoral umpire.
Any gift, honour, or public reward extended to a public officer before or after the discharge of official responsibility raises serious ethical and legal concerns. In civilized democracies, such actions are interpreted as inducement, gratification, or reward for favourable conduct. Governor Alex Otti’s action is therefore not only morally questionable but dangerous to the future credibility of elections in Abia State.
We call on Professor Nnenna Otti, if indeed she considers herself a thoroughbred academic and principled public servant which is very doubtful though, to immediately reject this honour. Failure to do so will reinforce the widespread belief that the 2023 Abia governorship election was compromised.
Should this embarrassing action persist, the APC will not hesitate to formally petition the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the relationship between Governor Alex Otti and Professor Nnenna Otti, including her activities during the 2023 governorship election in Abia State. Nigerians will recall that several political parties had raised serious concerns during the collation process, accusing Professor Otti of disregarding established electoral procedures and taking unilateral decisions inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act.
Abians are also not ignorant of the reported maternal relationship and close personal ties alleged to exist between the governor and Professor Nnenna Otti, a situation that further deepens public suspicion surrounding this entire development.
It is even more shocking that Governor Otti seeks to portray Professor Nnenna Otti as a symbol of integrity despite the avalanche of allegations trailing her administration at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), where students and members of the university community have repeatedly accused her administration of financial mismanagement and abuse of office. These allegations, already in the public domain, severely weaken the false image of sainthood the governor is desperately trying to manufacture around her personality.
A woman facing multiple allegations of financial impropriety and administrative misconduct cannot suddenly become the moral compass of Abia State simply because she declared Alex Otti winner of an election. By naming a major public infrastructure after her, Governor Otti has only reinforced growing public belief that he is paying back favours for the role she allegedly played during the 2023 elections.
This is a dangerous precedent that could send the wrong message to future electoral officers posted to Abia State ahead of the 2027 elections and we therefore ask, when did favourable electoral outcomes begin to attract rewards and state-sponsored recognition?
The APC therefore rejects and condemns in totality the naming of the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal or any public monument whatsoever after Professor Nnenna Otti. Such honour is undeserved, provocative, divisive, and embarrassing to the people of Abia State.
Abia State is blessed with genuine patriots, statesmen, technocrats, and selfless leaders whose contributions to the growth and development of the state remain unmatched. Men such as Sir J.O.J. Okezie, Chief Sam Okwulehie, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Elder Emma Adaelu, and many others made historic sacrifices for the progress of our people and are yet to receive such recognition.
Immortalizing an electoral officer instead of proven builders of the state is not only an insult to Abians but a mockery of democratic values, the APC condemns it, and vehemently rejects it and we call on Governor Alex Otti to immediately reconsider and reverse the undeserved Immortalization of Prof. Nnenna Otti.
Signed:
Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC Abia State
