Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has formally received the 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Chukwunenye, into the Labour Party (LP).
Johnson-Chukwunenye joined the Labour Party on Thursday, September 17, 2026, during a ceremony held at the party’s State Secretariat in Umuahia, where she declared her support for the Otti administration and its second-term bid.
Receiving her into the party, Governor Otti described Johnson-Chukwunenye’s decision to contest the 2023 governorship election as courageous, particularly as a woman seeking elective office.
Otti also addressed concerns over his political plans after leaving office in 2031, saying he would not seek a Senate seat or establish a political structure aimed at controlling his successor.
According to the governor, his administration’s legacy should be measured by the quality of governance it provides, rather than by political succession arrangements.
«“By the time I’m done, the person that will succeed me will be better than me. Once I finish this one, I will retire. I want the young people to take over. We should stop this sit-tight system,” Otti said.»
He added that he did not want to become a political godfather, stressing that Abians should collectively determine who succeeds him.
«“I don’t want to be a godfather. We will all sit down, look at everybody, and say who is the best person for this job. And then all of us would agree and we will campaign for him,” he stated.»
Otti said his administration remained focused on addressing the state’s major challenges through deliberate planning and prioritisation.
The governor noted that although the administration had been in office for about 39 months, it could not resolve every challenge simultaneously, especially given what he described as years of poor management.
He said the government initially prioritised the restoration of Aba and Umuahia and had now begun extending infrastructure interventions to communities in the hinterlands.
«“The most important areas for us were to restore Aba and Umuahia. And I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that we have literally restored those cities. We are now moving into the hinterlands, and we will continue until we reach everywhere,” Otti said.»
The governor also commended Johnson-Chukwunenye for bringing children from the School for the Blind to the event and for her concern for vulnerable members of society.
He subsequently welcomed her and her supporters into the Labour Party and assured them of his administration’s continued commitment to the development of Abia State.
Why Johnson-Chukwunenye Joined LP
Speaking earlier, Johnson-Chukwunenye said her decision to join the Labour Party followed her observation of developments under the Otti administration.
She cited the payment of salary arrears, regular payment of workers’ salaries, attention to pensioners, road rehabilitation and improvements in sanitation and infrastructure as factors that influenced her decision.
Johnson-Chukwunenye, who contested the 2023 governorship election on the SDP platform, said she had witnessed what she described as significant changes in the state.
«“I saw a State that was once the dustbin of unpaid salaries: 29 months of arrears, now paying salaries on the 28th of every month. I saw pensioners who were left to die, now smiling again because Abia remembers them,” she said.»
She also referenced the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road and other roads in Aba and Umuahia, saying the projects had contributed to what she described as the restoration of Abia’s dignity.
She declared that her decision to support Otti’s second-term bid was driven by what she described as a conviction that her humanitarian interests aligned with the governor’s vision for the state.
«“It became my own divinely guided conviction that my assignment must align with this vision. Hence, my decision to openly and joyfully support this second-term bid; not for politics, but for posterity,” she said.»
Johnson-Chukwunenye further said her commitment to vulnerable people, youths, women and social inclusion predated her entry into politics, adding that she had been concerned about social issues for more than 15 years.
She said the policies of the Otti administration on vulnerable groups and social inclusion aligned with her humanitarian convictions.
The event ended with the formal handover of the Labour Party flag to Johnson-Chukwunenye by the party leadership, marking her official entry into the party.
