The Abia State Government has pushed back against claims that Governor Alex Otti visited President Bola Tinubu to negotiate a political defection ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting the meeting was solely about securing the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, made the clarification in a statement on Thursday, December 4, after former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Charles Ogbonnaya, alleged that Otti was preparing to join the All Progressives Congress.
Ekeoma described the allegation as completely false, explaining that Otti’s visit to the President came right after he met Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
He said the governor has consistently engaged the Federal Government on the matter for two years.
According to him, “The governor subsequently had a meeting with the President after visiting the IPOB leader at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
“This is in continuation of earlier meetings the governor had been having with the FG on this matter in the past two years.
“The issue of Kanu was the only subject matter that took Governor Otti to Aso Rock and to the glory of God, the meeting was both positive and fruitful, as the President was so gracious and generous.”
Ekeoma said the clarification became necessary because Kanu’s case is extremely sensitive and important to the people of Abia State, adding that misinformation could inflame tensions.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Hosts Otti After Sokoto Prison Visit to Nnamdi Kanu
He also accused Ogbonnaya of repeatedly attacking the governor because Otti left his party during the 2023 elections.
Challenging the former commissioner to back his claims with facts, Ekeoma said, “Ogbonnaya’s allegation of Governor Otti going to lobby to join the APC is both petty, ignoble, laughable and very irresponsible.”
He added, “At the risk of sounding immodest, any political party Governor Otti chooses to join today would roll out the drums and red carpet to welcome him with joy and excitement.
“If anything, many notable and respected APC leaders are not just desirous of having him in their fold, but are strongly appealing to Governor Otti to join their party because they know that he is not a liability.”
Ekeoma went further, questioning Ogbonnaya’s claims of betrayal, capacity and inconsistency.
“Ogbonna accused Otti of betrayal, but he didn’t say who Otti betrayed, how or when. He claimed that Otti doesn’t have capacity, yet Otti defeated him in his Polling Unit, Ward and LGA where his PDP candidates from House of Assembly to President lost woefully.
“He accused Governor Otti of inconsistency, yet he abandoned Alhaji Atiku Abubakar less than 48 hours after the result of the presidential election was announced, despite the empty noise and boast he made about the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, all for Atiku’s money when it was needed and available.
“He alleged that Governor Otti is playing politics with Nnamdi Kanu, yet, he is angry that the Governor is engaging the FG to secure Kanu’s freedom. Is there anything more contradictory and ridiculous than Ogbonna’s utterances?”
Ekeoma urged the public to ignore the claims, saying the governor remains focused on seeing Kanu freed and continuing engagements with the Federal Government on the matter.