NEWS
Gov. Alex Otti Calls for Greater Citizen Participation as Abia Anniversary Lecture Highlights Three Years of Transformation
The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has called for stronger citizen participation in governance and electoral processes, warning that declining voter turnout poses a serious threat to the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Governor made the call on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, during the Abia State Anniversary Lecture organised by the state government as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the present administration. The lecture was themed: “Three Years of Transformation: Impacting Lives, Shaping the Future.”
Addressing a gathering of government officials, scholars, professionals, policy experts, business leaders and stakeholders from different sectors, Governor Otti expressed deep concern over the declining level of electoral participation in Nigeria. He cited statistics showing that voter turnout had dropped from about 57 per cent in 2007 to 27 per cent during the 2023 general elections.
The Governor noted that democracy can only thrive when citizens actively participate in the political and governance process, stressing that those who fail to engage in elections lose the moral authority to criticise leadership.
According to him, civic engagement must go beyond casting votes during elections and should involve continuous participation in governance and accountability processes.
“Participation does not necessarily mean contesting elections, but it means being actively involved in the democratic process,” he said.
Governor Otti further stated that governance must remain focused on improving the lives and dignity of citizens, emphasizing that true development should place people above mere physical infrastructure.
He explained that his philosophy of governance was inspired by the 15th-century philosopher Pietro della Vigna’s “Oration on the Dignity of Man,” adding that the purpose of leadership is to uplift humanity and create opportunities for citizens to thrive.
According to the Governor, sustainable governance must improve access to quality education, healthcare services, social welfare and economic opportunities across communities, stressing that meaningful development should directly impact the wellbeing of the people.
Governor Otti also commended renowned human rights lawyer and keynote speaker, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, for delivering what he described as a thought-provoking lecture, particularly on issues relating to governance reforms and security coordination.
The Governor praised proposals aimed at expanding the membership of state security councils to include officials from the education and health sectors, noting that modern governance requires broader institutional collaboration.
He equally highlighted the need for stronger regulation and quality assurance across both public and private tertiary institutions, pointing out disparities in accreditation standards among universities in the country.
Speaking further, Governor Otti acknowledged the role of diaspora professionals, academics and researchers in shaping the developmental direction of the state, stating that evidence-based planning had remained a key component of Abia’s development blueprint since 2015, with periodic reviews ahead of subsequent election cycles.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable development, assuring residents that ongoing infrastructure tours and project commissioning exercises across communities would continue.
Earlier while delivering the keynote lecture, renowned human rights lawyer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, stressed that sustainable governance in Nigeria must move beyond physical infrastructure and focus more on people, dignity and institutional integrity.
Prof. Odinkalu said the transformation recorded in Abia State within the last three years represented “a restoration of dignity, hope and trust in governance”.
He argued that development projects alone cannot guarantee lasting progress unless citizens are fully integrated into governance processes and take ownership of such initiatives.
“Projects matter, but projects will not last if the people do not have and the people do not own them,” he stated.
The legal scholar described the previous 24 years in Abia State as a period of “desgobierno,” a Spanish expression meaning “ungovernment”, while maintaining that the South-East region should shift attention from complaints of marginalisation to demonstrating effective and responsible governance.
According to him, “We can out-govern the rest of Nigeria and start creating a dignified population, a place where things work.”
Prof. Odinkalu further stated that the legitimacy of Governor Otti’s mandate had restored accountability in governance and significantly improved public confidence in leadership across the state.
He noted that improved roads, enhanced security architecture, better electricity supply and reforms in the healthcare sector had positively transformed Abia State.
The keynote speaker particularly commended the street lighting and electricity projects in Aba, which he said had contributed immensely to reducing crime and improving productivity for businesses and residents.
He also praised the administration’s social welfare interventions, including health insurance programmes, disability support initiatives, maternal transport schemes and the ongoing upgrade of primary healthcare centres across the state.
Prof. Odinkalu further proposed the establishment of a research and development cluster powered by the state’s universities, alongside a commercial dispute resolution hub and a women’s legacy enterprise fund in honour of the historic Aba women of 1929.
He urged Abians to safeguard the progress already achieved under the current administration.
“The smile has returned to the faces of the people and hope appears willing to return from exile,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, public affairs analyst, Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi, urged political stakeholders and residents to remain focused on sustaining the achievements of Governor Alex Otti’s administration rather than becoming distracted by early political calculations.
He emphasized the importance of institutionalising good governance and effective leadership through deliberate strategies capable of preserving the gains already recorded and ensuring a lasting legacy beyond the present administration.
In her remarks, a Director at Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Eileen Shaiyen, stated that Abia State possesses the potential to emerge as a major commercial and professional services hub if the state continues to make the right leadership decisions.
She attributed governance challenges in many societies to poor leadership selection and advised citizens to look beyond superficial sentiments when electing leaders in order to sustain the ongoing transformation in Abia State and the wider South-East region.
Contributing during the lecture, technology expert, Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, commended the Abia State Government for what he described as credible efforts aimed at strengthening governance systems and building the capacity of citizens.
He noted that developments across critical sectors reflected a deliberate and technology-driven approach to governance designed to improve service d
elivery and effectively respond to the needs of the people.