Politics
Alex Otti In Trouble As APC Vows To Take Over Abia In 2027
Alex Otti In Trouble As APC Vows To Take Over Abia In 2027
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The political atmosphere in Abia State is heating up, and the temperature is rising rapidly. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fired a direct political missile at Governor Alex Otti, vowing with unshakable resolve to take over the Government House in Umuahia come 2027. It is no longer business as usual. The sleeping giant of the opposition in the state claims to be wide awake, and the battle for the soul of Abia has begun in earnest.
The APC chieftains, speaking in Umuahia last week, declared unequivocally that they are on a mission to “rescue Abia from economic stagnation and elitist governance.” Their choice of words was deliberate and direct—a sharp criticism of Otti’s leadership style, which many within and outside the state describe as more cosmetic than transformational.
A Wake-Up Call for Labour Party
Alex Otti, a former bank executive and celebrated technocrat, rode to power under the Labour Party’s banner in 2023, buoyed by the Peter Obi wave and a strong anti-establishment sentiment among the electorate. His emergence was seen as a break from decades of political recycling in Abia. But less than two years into his tenure, the narrative has begun to shift.
Critics argue that Otti has failed to address the core structural and socio-economic issues affecting the state. While flyovers, road rehabilitation, and civil service audits dominate his press briefings, many say these are mere surface-level interventions. The youth remain unemployed, the SMEs suffocating under harsh taxes, and rural areas neglected.
The APC’s bold declaration should not be taken lightly. The party, which has federal might and a national structure, is poised to exploit every misstep of the current administration. According to Chief Ikechi Emenike, a prominent APC stakeholder in Abia, “We are going to dismantle this Labour Party experiment in 2027. What is going on in Abia today is not governance—it is a reality show.”
History and the Winds of Political Change
Abia’s political history has largely been dominated by the PDP until the Labour Party disrupted the power structure in 2023. However, the euphoria of change is being quickly eroded by a growing sense of disillusionment. Political observers note that Otti’s technocratic governance style often clashes with the everyday realities of the average Abian.
The APC is capitalizing on this disconnect. They are rebranding and reorganizing. Several prominent politicians from both PDP and LP have reportedly begun secret talks with the APC ahead of 2027. As the legendary political thinker Niccolò Machiavelli wrote in The Prince, “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” The APC seems to be adopting this posture—less of diplomacy, more of political conquest.
Governance Under Scrutiny
The Labour Party-led administration in Abia cannot afford to ignore the mounting criticisms. While Governor Otti has been praised for promoting transparency and tackling ghost workers, many still argue that the state’s economy is shrinking. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Abia ranked 24th out of 36 states in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2024—a sharp contrast to the governor’s media claims of economic transformation.
In the words of Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, “Development is not about highways and flyovers; it is about improving the lives of the people.” If the APC succeeds in framing the current administration as elitist and disconnected, they may very well succeed in 2027.
The Power of Political Messaging
The APC’s strategy is clear: target the grassroots. With over 70% of Abians living in rural communities, a political party that ignores them does so at its peril. According to Professor Chidi Odinkalu, a respected human rights activist, “Democracy must begin at the village square.” Unfortunately, many in Abia’s hinterlands claim they haven’t seen any difference since Otti assumed office.
Former President Barack Obama once said, “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” The APC seems to be deploying this line of attack: no matter how beautified Umuahia looks, if the people in Arochukwu, Bende, and Umunneochi still drink muddy water and send their children to roofless schools, the government has failed.
A Divided Opposition, or a Formidable Force?
The only potential setback for the APC is internal disunity. The party has suffered from factionalism in the past. But recent moves suggest a consensus is building around the goal of reclaiming Abia. If the party can field a charismatic candidate with both grassroots and elite appeal, Governor Otti may be in serious trouble.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, once stated, “Leadership is not about titles or positions. It is about impact, influence, and inspiration.” This is a powerful reminder that political branding alone cannot win elections. Performance must meet perception.
The People Hold the Key
No political calculation is complete without considering the voters. The people of Abia will ultimately decide who governs them. The 2023 elections demonstrated that they are tired of recycled politics. But what they want now is not just change—but results.
Dr. John Campbell, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, wrote in his book Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink, “Nigerians are not asking for miracles. They are asking for basic decency in governance.” The people of Abia want working hospitals, functioning schools, a vibrant economy, and jobs—not press releases or photo-ops.
Looking Ahead: 2027 and Beyond
With less than two years to the next election, political movements will intensify. The APC’s message of reclaiming Abia must be matched with credible plans, not just political rhetoric. They must offer an alternative that resonates with ordinary people. For now, Governor Otti still holds the mandate, but his political honeymoon is clearly over.
Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once warned, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Governor Otti must reconnect with the aspirations of the masses or risk being dethroned by a more tactically grounded opposition.
As 2027 approaches, the state will likely witness a fierce electoral battle—one not just of personalities, but of ideologies, performance, and public trust. If the APC maintains its current momentum and strategic clarity, then indeed, Alex Otti may be in serious political trouble.
Conclusion
The vow by the APC to take over Abia in 2027 is more than political talk; it is a signal of war. A war of narratives, of performance, and of perception. Governor Alex Otti must rise above press conferences and elite commendations. He must return to the streets, listen to the people, and correct the course of his administration. The time of political grace is gone. Now begins the time of political reckoning.
As the popular African proverb goes, “The man who fetches firewood infested with ants invites lizards to his home.” If Governor Otti does not change direction quickly, the lizards of opposition may soon overrun his political household.
Primate ELIJAH AYODELE: The Seer, And the Country That Listens
By Femi Oyewale
Ejigbo, Lagos — When Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele steps onto the pulpit of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church each week, he does more than preach: he convenes a national conversation. For decades, the clergy has issued blunt, often headline-grabbing prophecies about presidents, markets, and disasters — pronouncements that are dutifully copied, debated, and digested across Nigerian newsrooms, social media, and political corridors.
Primate Ayodele is best known for two things: the regular release of New Year’s and seasonal “warnings to the nation,” and a large, loyal following that amplifies those warnings into national discourse. He publishes annual prophecy booklets, holds prayer mountain conventions where journalists are invited, and maintains active social media channels that spread his messages quickly beyond his church gates. In July 2025, he launched a compendium of his prophecies titled “Warnings to the Nations,” an event covered by national outlets, which Ayodele used to restate concerns about security, governance, and international affairs.
Ayodele’s prophecies have touched on lightning-rod topics: election outcomes, the health or fate of public figures, infrastructure failures, and international crises. Nigerian and regional press have repeatedly published lists of his “fulfilled” predictions — from political upsets to tragic accidents — and his followers point to these as proof of his accuracy. Media roundups in recent years credited him with dozens of prophecies he argued had been realised in 2023 and 2024, and his annual prophetic rollouts continue to attract wide attention.
Impact beyond prediction: politics, policy, and public mood
The practical effect of Ayodele’s ministry is not limited to whether a prophecy comes to pass. In Nigeria’s politicised and religiously engaged public sphere, a prominent seer can:
• Move conversations in electoral seasons; politicians, commentators, and voters listen when he names likely winners or warns about risks to candidates, and his claims sometimes become part of campaign narratives.
• Shape popular expectations — warnings about economic hardship, insecurity, ty or public health influence how congregations and communities prepare and react.
• Exert soft pressure on leaders — high-profile admonitions directed at governors or ministers often prompt responses from the accused or their allies, creating a feedback loop between pulpit pronouncements and political actors.
Philanthropy and institution building
Ayodele’s public profile extends into philanthropy and church development. He runs INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church from Oke-Afa, Lagos, and his ministry periodically organises humanitarian outreach, scholarships, and hospital visits — activities he frames as evidence that prophetic ministry must be accompanied by concrete acts of charity. Church events such as extended “17-day appreciation” outreaches and scholarship programmes have been widely reported and help cement his appeal among congregants who value spiritual counsel paired with material support.
What makes him unique
Several features set Ayodele apart from other public religious figures in Nigeria:
1. Productivity and documentation. He releases extensive, numbered lists of prophecies and compiles them into booklets — a tactic that makes his predictions easy to track (and for supporters to tally as “fulfilled”).
2. A blend of national and international focus. His pronouncements frequently move beyond parochial concerns to name international actors and events, which broadens his media footprint.
3. Media-savvy presentation. From staged press events to active social accounts, Ayodele understands how to turn a prophecy into a viral story that will be picked up by blogs, newspapers, and TV.
The public verdict: faith, influence, and skepticism
To millions of Nigerians — and to his core following — Primate Ayodele remains a pastor-prophet whose warnings must be taken seriously. To others, he is a media personality whose relevance depends as much on spectacle and circulatory power as on supernatural insight. What is indisputable is his role in magnifying the religious dimension of national life: when he speaks, politicians, congregants, and newsrooms listen. That attention, in turn, helps determine which social and political questions become urgent in public debate.
Looking ahead
As Nigeria heads into another cycle of elections and economic challenges, Ayodele’s annual pronouncements will almost certainly return to the front pages. Whether they are read as sober warnings, political interventions, or performative theology, they will continue to shape conversations about destiny, leadership, and the kinds of risks a deeply religious nation believes it must prepare for.
Politics
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
In a remarkable display of commitment to academic excellence and community development, Hon. Babatunde Olaogun, a distinguished alumnus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has gifted the Department of Business Administration with state-of-the-art workable tools such as stationery items which includes several reams of A4 papers, detachable whiteboards. permanent markers, temporary markers among others things.
Olaogun also added that as part of his commitment to ensuring that students of the department enjoys first class academic infrastructure, a contemporary projector facility would be delivered to the department in no distant time courtesy of his humble self to further enhance ease during presentation of seminar and projects.
The donation ceremony was graced by eminent personalities at the department, including Prof. (Mrs) Ojokuku, Prof. Adegoroye and Dr. (Mrs.) Akanbi who warmly received Mr. Olaogun. The trio of the reverred academics thanked Mr. Olaogun for his commitment to good causes and urged him to continue doing even more good for the university, Ogbomoso in particular, Oyo State and the entire nation at large.
In their goodwill message, Prof. Ojokuku and Prof. Adegoroye also counseled Mr. Olaogun to stay focused and not be swayed by naysayers who may seek to tarnish his reputation. They further encouraged him to carry along, students of Public Administration from LAUTECH, with a view to a availing them practical skills and knowledge essential for their success in their future endeavors.
The Department of Business Administration is thrilled to receive this donation and looks forward to leveraging these tools to improve academic outcomes and produce highly skilled graduates.
Mr. Olaogun’s gesture is a shining example of the university’s alumni community’s commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
OGUN VISIONARIES CONGRATULATE SENATOR YAYI ON BIRTHDAY.
A socio political group Ogun Visionaries For Yayi, has felicitated with her principal and Senator representing Ogun West at the red chamber, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as he celebrates his birthday.
Solomon Yayi has been described as an illustrious Ogun Son, who is ever committed to the reformation of Ogun State and Nigeria.
According to the statement by the State Director General Hon. Odunjo issued on behalf of the group thanked Senator Yayi, for his outstanding transformation of the entire Ogun West and the State in general, his people oriented law making and contributions to the development of Ogun West , the State and Nigeria in general.
The group described Senator Yayi as a thorough bred politician, an epitome of humility, a game changer and lover of the people, while urging him to sustain his contributions to humanity.
The Visionaries for Senator Yayi noted that the Senator has brought his political experience to bear on the various constituency projects spread across the state.
The Socio Political group also lauded the technocrat-turned politician for his charming and urbane disposition to the discharge of his responsibility as a law maker representing Ogun West and as Chairman, Senate Committee on appropriation.
“Senator, Chief Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has continued to blaze the trail by providing and offering leadership at various levels of governance, the maverick Senator has continued to serve his people well without relenting”.
“He has continued to provide sound and relevant legislation at different times and we thank you for always being there for us”.
Over the years, you have carved a niche for yourself by dint of hard work and discipline, maintaining a charismatic and unblemished leadership style that has endeared you to many Ogun West residents, entire State and Nigerians in general”.
“You have exhibited absolute leadership traits of a man committed to doing things differently as it is in developed and organised climes”.
“On behalf of all of us in Visionaries for Senator Yayi, we congratulate you Our dear leader, brother and friend, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola on the occasion of your 56th birth anniversary”.
“In the past 56 years, your family and indeed, your political and associates and admirers have caused to be grateful to Almighty God for having granted you a life of great accomplishments and abiding fulfillment”.
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