Otti withdraws from APC Governorship Primary in Abia, seeks alternative platform

One of the leading contenders for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has pulled out of the race.

In resting his aspiration to the gubernatorial office on the platform of APC, Otti alleged that the result of the primary election, scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 26, 2022, has already been decided even before the whistle goes off.

Consequently, he said, “I hereby withdraw from the predetermined governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress slated to take place in the next few days.

“This well thought out decision was taken after due consultation with the army of our supporters, stakeholders, and above all, respected leaders of the APC within and outside Abia state.”

Otti, whose mandate as elected governor of Abia State in 2015 was truncated under questionable circumstance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State and sealed by the Supreme Court, said his decision to drop off from the APC primary election was “well thought out” and “taken after due consultation with the army of our supporters, stakeholders, and above all, respected leaders of the APC within and outside Abia state”.

In a statement issued Tuesday night by his special adviser on media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Diamond Bank Plc (now Access Bank) assured the people of Abia, who have earnestly yearned for his success, that there was no cause for alarm.

READ: Why I want to be governor of Abia State in 2023 – Otti

He said: “There’s no cause for alarm over this development. We are more than ever resolved to pursue our ambition on another platform, and would give it our best to ensure we convincingly and legitimately win the mandate of our people come 2023.”

Below, RELIABLESOURCENG.COM reproduces full details of Otti’s statement.

Withdrawal from the APC Governorship Primary

Sequel to the memo from the National Legal Adviser to the Chairman of the APC dated May 18, 2022 which imposed a strange sharing formular on APC aspirants in Abia state, more than 90% of the aspirants, leaders and stakeholders of the party opposed the decision and subsequently appealed to the leadership of the APC to allow an open contest that would give room for the emergence of popular candidates who would also enjoy the support of party members and the electorate during the general election. Unfortunately, the party stuck to its decision to go by way of imposition of aspirants. I hereby make the following declarations:

That the constitution of the party and the electoral act have no room for coercion and imposition of candidates, hence the wise provision for either Direct Primaries, Indirect Primaries, or Consensus as acceptable modes of electing candidates.

That while the rest of the aspirants had agreed to rally round and support any aspirant that wins the governorship primaries through a free and fair contest, a particular aspirant who obviously believes that he doesn’t stand a chance in a proper contest, rather chose to align with outside forces to be imposed on the party. But because we know that any product of imposition for the governorship ticket in the APC at a time like this in Abia would stand little chance in the general election, we strongly opposed it.

That it’s my firm belief that anyone who wants to govern Abia state and Abians, must be someone who has been democratically chosen by the people, and not one imposed by undemocratic or external forces pursuing self-serving agenda that would undermine the welfare and wellbeing of Abians at the long run.

That because I know that no true revolution has ever taken place without hitches and hiccups, my dogged determination and avowed commitment to ensuring the dawn of a new era of progressive and people-oriented leadership has rather been emboldened than dampened.

That because we are on a voyage of Abia redemption, and because the leadership calamity that befell Abia since the return of democracy in 1999 has not abated, we do not intend to quit midway, as that would represent a tragedy of immense proportion for our people who have been on a long search for good governance that would give them a well-deserved reprieve.

That in the light of the above stated facts, I hereby withdraw from the predetermined governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress slated to take place in the next few days.

This well thought out decision was taken after due consultation with the army of our supporters, stakeholders, and above all, respected leaders of the APC within and outside Abia state.

Finally, we wish to inform our teeming supporters and well-wishers that, having been roundly blessed and equipped by God, there’s no cause for alarm over this development, as we are more than ever resolved to pursue our ambition on another platform, and would give it our best to ensure we convincingly and legitimately win the mandate of our people come 2023.

Thank you.

God bless Abia state.