The Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), Okoye Chuka Peter, has challenged opposition politicians in Abia State to develop credible, evidence-based policy alternatives ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Okoye made the call in an opinion article titled “This Is the Naked Truth – Abia Opposition, Where Are Your Issues?”, in which he criticised what he described as a growing deficit of strategic and issue-driven opposition politics in the state.
His comments followed a recent social media commentary by Onyebuchi Ememanka, popularly known as Ururu Aja, concerning a reported statement by a gubernatorial aspirant who allegedly promised to “return Government House to Umuahia” if elected governor in 2027.
Reacting to the statement, Okoye questioned the policy substance behind such a promise, arguing that political candidates should explain clearly the specific governance problem they intend to address rather than rely on slogans.
He stressed that opposition politicians seeking to defeat an incumbent administration must first understand and thoroughly scrutinise the government in power.
According to him, serious opposition should involve conducting surveys, engaging communities, analysing budgets and government expenditure, tracking procurement, assessing projects, examining policies and comparing campaign promises with actual performance.
“You cannot defeat a government you have failed to study,” Okoye stated.
He argued that opposition politicians should identify areas where the government has performed well, as well as shortcomings, unfulfilled promises, poorly executed projects, questionable spending and policy gaps, before presenting voters with credible alternatives.
Okoye, who said he is not a partisan supporter of Governor Alex Otti, maintained that every government must be subjected to constant democratic scrutiny.
He, however, acknowledged that the Otti administration had created visible governance narratives around infrastructure, public works and institutional reforms, which, according to him, require substantive engagement from those seeking to replace the governor.
He challenged opposition candidates to provide evidence when alleging failure by the government, including comparisons between budget allocations and actual expenditure, promises and delivery, as well as project specifications and implementation.
“Failed where? Show us. Document it. Compare the budget with actual expenditure. Compare promises with delivery,” he said.
The CEHRAWS director also recalled the 2015 governorship campaign of Governor Otti, when he said he was part of Otti’s political camp, describing the then candidate’s manifesto as one that was substantially informed by an assessment of problems confronting Abia State.
He argued that the opposition now needs to produce similarly compelling policy documents capable of convincing voters that its candidates have workable solutions to the state’s challenges.
On the reported promise to “return Government House to Umuahia,” Okoye said that if the concern was actually about administrative concentration, the distribution of government functions or geographical balance, the aspirant should explain the issue, legal framework, economic implications and expected benefits.
He further called on opposition politicians to acknowledge positive achievements of the government where applicable, while rigorously challenging policies or projects they consider flawed.
According to him, admitting that an opponent has achieved something does not weaken opposition politics but can instead strengthen its credibility when criticism is backed by evidence.
Okoye urged opposition politicians to focus not only on identifying problems but also on presenting solutions, including the cost of their proposed policies, sources of funding, implementation plans, timelines and measurable outcomes.
“The opposition must therefore stop behaving as though its only responsibility is to discover faults. Its greater responsibility is to discover solutions,” he said.
He advised politicians aspiring to succeed Otti in 2027 to begin preparations early by studying the administration, building research teams, gathering grassroots intelligence, developing policy alternatives and producing credible manifestos.
“Do not merely tell Abians that you want Alex Otti’s seat. Convince them that you deserve it,” Okoye stated.
He concluded that the central question in a democracy should not simply be who wants political power, but who is sufficiently prepared, competent and credible to be entrusted with it.
