Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged the people of the state not to entertain any fear or anxiety regarding the 2027 gubernatorial election, declaring that power belongs to God and no human effort can overturn His will.
The governor made the call on Saturday during the Unity Chapel’s Sabbath Worship and Musical concert programme, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Abia State.
Otti was responding to a sermon by Pastor Kennedy C. Iheoma, President of the Aba North Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who had described the governor as a man on a divine mandate from God. The preacher had also expressed concern over worries among some church members about opposition elements already expressing intentions to reclaim power in 2027.
Addressing the congregation, the governor dismissed the need for panic, insisting that God remains the ultimate decider of who leads the people.
“I want to also thank the pastor for the sermon today. Very instructive for us, I’d like to assure you, pastor, I’d like to assure you, all the people that are here, that nobody should panic,” Otti said.
“I’ve always said so. That power belongs to God, so, He gives it to who He wills. Ten million people cannot move a needle if God wants to go in a particular direction. Ten million people can also not help anyone that God has not chosen to help. So, I’ve always maintained that people should not panic. And in any case, like the pastor said, this is a divine mission.”
The governor reassured the people that Abia would not be allowed to return to what he described as the state’s “undesirable past.”
During the event, Otti paid special tribute to a former Vice President of Nigeria under the military administration of Ibrahim Babangida (1985–1986), Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd), who was present at the worship. The governor disclosed that Ukiwe had served as chairman at his wedding 33 years ago, and commended his legacy of exemplary service to the nation.
Otti was joined at the worship by his wife, Priscilla; the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Darlington Nwokocha; the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Austin Nmeregini; the Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Meribole; the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms Sharon Dimanche; as well as other top government functionaries.
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