Abia State governor Alex Otti says no law compels him to live or work from the Government House in Umuahia, despite threats by some former governors to sue him over the issue.
Speaking at a media parley in Umuahia, Otti said he is ready for any legal challenge and has already consulted his lawyers. He noted that after studying the Constitution, he found no provision that forces a governor to reside in a particular location.
Otti explained that he currently operates from his private residence in Nvosi because the Governor’s Lodge and offices in Government House were left in a deplorable condition by previous administrations. He said the facilities are being rebuilt, including a new governor’s office, and insisted he owes no one an explanation for his temporary base.
His comments followed recent threats by former governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu and their allies, who have been demanding that he relocate to Government House.
At the briefing, Otti also announced a one month extension of Abia’s free electric bus service. The 20 electric buses, which started free operations in late December 2025 and were due to end in January, will now run at no cost to commuters until the end of February 2026.
On the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, Otti said he remains a member of the party “for now.” He noted that a recent court judgment affirmed the Nenadi Usman led National Working Committee as the authentic leadership and confirmed that the tenure of former chairman Julius Abure has expired.
Otti said the certified true copy of the judgment has been sent to INEC and urged party members to obey court rulings to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the judiciary. He added that elections are not yet near but, if held today, he would still run under the Labour Party, while stressing that “nobody knows tomorrow.”
The governor highlighted some achievements of his administration, including free education, which he said has significantly increased enrolment in public schools. He disclosed that the Omenuko Bridge on the Bende–Ohafia federal road has been completed and will soon be inaugurated, while contractors on other key roads such as Ohafia–Arochukwu have been ordered back to site.
Otti also said the expansion of Lokpanta Cattle Market into a multi sector commercial hub has been approved by the State Executive Council and will begin soon. To boost internally generated revenue, he announced plans to digitise levies and assessments for hotels and hospitality businesses so that rates can be issued electronically.
He reaffirmed his commitment to good governance and promised more infrastructure projects across the state, saying his goal is to leave Abia better than he met it.
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