I Hold More Influence at the Top!” – Gov Otti Boasts of Proximity to Nigeria’s Power Circle

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has affirmed that he does not need to defect from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to gain access to the corridors of power in Aso Rock.

Amid growing speculation that Otti might be considering leaving the LP—especially following a wave of defections that disrupted the long-standing structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State—Otti made his position clear during an interview with Arise Television.

These speculations intensified after former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, recently defected to the APC, stating that the move was aimed at connecting Delta State more directly with the federal government.

However, when asked whether he felt compelled to decamp like his counterparts in Delta State, Otti confidently responded:
“I am even closer to the centre than some of them.”

In a separate revelation, Governor Otti accused his predecessor, former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, of fraudulently withdrawing ₦10 billion from the state’s account under the guise of building an airport. He disclosed that this was uncovered during a financial audit conducted by his administration.

Otti also criticized Ikpeazu for commissioning an incomplete government house just days before leaving office.
“My predecessor commissioned an uncompleted building on May 28. He finished only the ground floor with Italian furniture and paint. The upper floors weren’t even plastered or fitted with basic sanitary wares. That’s fraud,” he said.

When asked if he planned to initiate a formal probe against Ikpeazu, Otti said such an action would be a distraction from his core responsibilities, given that he has only four years to deliver on his mandate. However, he insisted that the former governor must either return the ₦10 billion or hand over a completed airport project.