Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed confidence that whoever succeeds him in 2031 will perform even better, noting that his administration is laying a strong and irreversible foundation for the state’s development.

The governor stated this on Sunday during a reception service organised in his honour by the Assemblies of God Church, Okaiuga–Nkwoegwu, in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

Otti said his administration was still in its early years, stressing that the period ahead would witness aggressive and sustained development across the state.

He added that the longstanding challenges that hindered Abia’s growth had been overcome.

According to him, Abia has entered a new phase of progress that cannot be reversed, insisting that those expecting a return to the old order are “dreaming.”

“We have just started. We are not even three years old yet. By the time we are done in 2031, the results will speak for themselves. This is the season for the aggressive development of Abia State, and the curse that held us down has been broken,” Otti said.

He added that his confidence in the future of the state was rooted in his belief that power ultimately belongs to God, noting that divine timing plays a critical role in leadership and governance.

Responding to requests by the church for support, the governor announced that a Hummer bus for evangelism would be delivered within the week, courtesy of Prince Arthur Eze.

He also directed his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, to engage with church leaders on the allocation of land for a proposed prayer camp.

Otti thanked churches across the state for their support and prayers, while expressing appreciation to the Assemblies of God Church for the reception organised in his honour.

Earlier, the District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Jerusalem District, Rev. Dr Kenneth Ogbudu, described Governor Otti as a transformational leader whose emergence had marked a clear departure from past administrations in Abia State.

He said the governor’s leadership had introduced governance driven by competence, transparency and accountability, citing the reconstruction of long-abandoned roads, improved fiscal discipline and the regular payment of salaries and pensions as key achievements.

According to Ogbudu, the administration’s reforms have restored public confidence, revived economic activities and repositioned Abia State as an attractive destination for investment.

The reception was attended by the wife of the governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti; the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha; the Deputy Speaker and other members of the Abia State House of Assembly; the Chief of Staff; commissioners, special advisers, senior government officials and other dignitaries.

The Atiku Haske Organisation has disowned and expelled Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress and his directive that members of the group should join him in the ruling party.

The group said Abba lacked the authority to determine its political direction, insisting that he was neither its founder nor a financier of its activities.

Abba had, after announcing his defection to the APC on Thursday, instructed coordinators and members of his political structure to defect en masse and mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also called for the renaming of the group to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.

However, reacting in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the initiator and convener of the Atiku Haske Organisation, Mai Nagge Bakari, said Abba was only an invited member and had no legal or moral standing to issue directives on behalf of the organisation.

Bakari stated that Abba neither contributed financially to the group nor held its registration documents, stressing that the organisation was founded independently of him.

According to the statement, the group had collectively resolved to move from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African Democratic Congress and had no intention of defecting to any other party.

Describing Abba’s action as a violation of the group’s resolutions, values and principles, Bakari announced his immediate expulsion from the organisation, declaring his directive to defect to the APC “null and void.”

The group reaffirmed its loyalty to Atiku Abubakar, describing him as the candidate best suited to advance its objectives, and warned Abba to stop identifying himself as a member.

Abba Atiku was received into the APC on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and other party leaders from the North-East.

He pledged support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid and announced the renaming of his political structure to align with the President’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified its governorship primary election which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as its candidate for the June 20, 2026 governorship poll.

The party said it had approached the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling and had also filed an application for a stay of execution, insisting that Oluyede remains its duly nominated candidate pending the outcome of the appeal.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Ado Ekiti by the Director of Media and Communication of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Sanya Atofarati.

According to Atofarati, the notice of appeal and the stay application effectively preserve the status quo, stressing that the judgment does not invalidate Oluyede’s candidacy until a superior court decides otherwise.

He maintained that Oluyede emerged from a valid primary election that was properly conducted and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Atofarati said the party was undeterred by ongoing litigation and political pressure, adding that the PDP remained focused on reclaiming power from the All Progressives Congress in the 2026 election.

He accused the APC of attempting to exploit the court ruling to destabilise the opposition, noting that the situation had instead strengthened the PDP’s resolve and highlighted what he described as the failures of the ruling party in Ekiti State.

According to him, pensioners are owed arrears, major roads are in poor condition, the education sector has deteriorated, businesses are burdened by multiple taxation and public infrastructure has suffered neglect.

Atofarati also alleged that the APC-led administration was unpopular, even within its own ranks, accusing it of suppressing internal dissent by avoiding credible primary elections.

He stressed that the PDP had not withdrawn recognition of Oluyede as its governorship candidate and would only do so if compelled by the final decision of a superior court.

The party further alleged that the omission of Oluyede’s name from INEC’s provisional list of candidates was a deliberate attempt to unlawfully exclude the PDP from the ballot, adding that it had already taken legal steps to compel the electoral body to act in line with the law.

The PDP urged its members and supporters to remain united and intensify grassroots mobilisation, including active participation in the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise ahead of the election.

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court last week nullified the PDP governorship primaries held on November 8, 2025, following a suit filed by one of the aspirants, Funso Ayeni, and ordered the conduct of a fresh primary election.

Preparations have reached an advanced stage for the wedding ceremony of nine children of the Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, scheduled to hold on the same day in Abuja.

An invitation card for the ceremony, which has been widely circulated on social media, indicates that the weddings will take place at the Abuja Central Mosque by 1:30 pm on February 6.

The nine children listed on the invitation are Ibrahim, Suraj, Safiya, Maryam, Aisha, Fahad, Muh’d, Nana Firdausi and Farida.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris, said the children comprise five sons and four daughters.

Idris disclosed that arrangements for the event were in top gear, adding that he is a member of the organising committee.

“By the grace of God, the wedding ceremony will be conducted at the Abuja Central Mosque on February 6. The minister is marrying off five sons and four daughters, and preparations have reached an advanced stage to ensure a smooth and successful ceremony,” he said.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has cautioned political opponents against what he described as premature discussions about the 2027 general elections, insisting that his administration will not be distracted from its development agenda.

The governor gave the warning during a church service at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District Headquarters, in Isialangwa South Local Government Area, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku.

Otti said his government remains committed to fixing Abia State and would not allow political noise to derail its mission.

He stressed that no individual or group has the right to distract his administration from delivering on its promises to the people.

He noted that his focus is on governance rather than electioneering, adding that discussions about the 2027 polls were unnecessary at this stage.

According to him, the administration will continue to do what is right for the state, regardless of political distractions.

The governor also dismissed speculations about his political future, attributing his victory in the 2023 election to divine intervention.

He expressed confidence that the same providence would guide future outcomes, insisting that he remains unconcerned about political permutations.

Addressing concerns raised by church leaders over flooding and poor drainage in the area, Otti directed the Commissioner for Works to extend ongoing drainage construction to Umuikaa junction.

He also apologised to residents for the inconvenience caused by the Umuikaa junction–Owerrinta road project, describing it as a necessary phase in the development process.

Otti disclosed that the road project, though a federal road, received approval from the Federal Government for reconstruction and dualisation, adding that similar infrastructure work was ongoing in other parts of the state, including the Onuimo–Tower axis.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to govern with transparency and integrity, while thanking the church for its prayers and support.

In their remarks, leaders of the church and political support groups commended the governor’s performance, expressing confidence in his leadership and describing his re-election prospects as strong based on visible achievements across the state.

They also renewed calls for improved drainage around the church and neighbouring communities.

The service was attended by the governor’s wife, Priscilla Otti, members of the state executive council, local government officials and other dignitaries.

Moves to form a joint presidential ticket between former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and ex–Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general election have intensified, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo emerging as a key driver of the proposed alliance.

Investigations revealed that Obi and Kwankwaso have set up a joint committee to work out modalities for contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.

Party insiders disclosed that the alliance was initiated by Obasanjo, who encouraged Obi to defect to the ADC and work closely with Kwankwaso to secure the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets.

Sources said the former president has been actively lobbying northern political leaders in support of the proposed partnership, believing it offers a viable alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Obasanjo had openly supported Obi during the 2023 election, describing him as better prepared for leadership compared to other contenders.

Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence under Obasanjo, is yet to formally join the ADC, but discussions on his defection are ongoing.

Currently, Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex–Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi are said to be presidential aspirants within the ADC.

A senior party source confirmed that while Kwankwaso has not officially joined the party, preparations for the alliance are already underway.

Leaders of the Kwankwasiyya Movement also acknowledged Obasanjo’s role in initiating the talks, expressing optimism that the partnership would materialise.

Further findings showed that a joint committee comprising representatives of both camps was established about a month ago to mobilise support within the ADC and harmonise positions.

A member of the committee, Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, confirmed that both Obi and Kwankwaso were open to serving either as president or vice president, insisting that the overriding goal was national recovery.

Despite these developments, the ADC leadership said it had no formal knowledge of the alliance.

The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that while the ADC welcomed Kwankwaso and valued Obi’s contribution, any negotiations between the two politicians were outside the party’s official framework.

Reacting to the proposed alliance, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said the former vice president was not threatened, stressing that Atiku remained focused on his political journey and welcomed broad participation within the party.

Supporters of Obi, under the Obidient Movement, welcomed the alliance, describing it as a potentially formidable force if properly coordinated.

The group’s coordinator, Yinusa Tanko, said cooperation between Obidient and Kwankwasiyya supporters could significantly reshape the 2027 political landscape.

Meanwhile, debate has emerged within the ADC over zoning. Obi’s supporters are pushing for the presidential ticket to be zoned to the South, arguing it offers the best chance of defeating Tinubu.

However, party leaders warned against zoning, insisting that competence and unity, rather than regional considerations, should guide the choice of candidate.