APC kicks as Otti names bus terminal after INEC returning officer

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned Governor Alex Otti for naming the newly commissioned Umuahia Central Bus Terminal after Professor Nnenna Otti.

Prof. Otti served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 governorship election in Abia State, where Alex Otti was declared winner.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the APC described the governor’s action as suspicious, provocative and capable of weakening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The party alleged that honouring an electoral officer who supervised the election that produced the governor raised serious ethical questions.

According to the APC, Prof. Otti was appointed and paid by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to carry out an official assignment and should not be immortalised by the beneficiary of the election she supervised.

The party asked why other governors across the country had not named public monuments after returning officers who handled elections in their states.

APC also alleged that the development suggested a possible relationship between Governor Otti and the former returning officer.

It said the honour could be interpreted as a reward for the role Prof. Otti allegedly played during the 2023 governorship election.

The party called on Prof. Otti to reject the honour, warning that failure to do so would further fuel suspicion about the credibility of the 2023 Abia governorship election.

The APC also threatened to petition the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, if the governor failed to reverse the decision.

According to the party, the petition would seek an investigation into the relationship between Governor Otti and Prof. Otti, as well as her conduct during the 2023 election in Abia State.

The opposition party recalled that some political parties had raised concerns during the collation of results, accusing the former returning officer of taking decisions they considered inconsistent with the Electoral Act.

The APC also claimed that there were alleged personal ties between the governor and Prof. Otti, saying such reports had further deepened public suspicion over the naming of the terminal.

It further criticised the governor for presenting Prof. Otti as a symbol of integrity despite what it described as allegations surrounding her tenure at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO.

The party said naming a major public infrastructure after her was an insult to Abians and a dangerous precedent ahead of future elections.

APC said Abia State had several notable figures who had contributed more directly to the development of the state and deserved such recognition.

It listed Sir J.O.J. Okezie, Chief Sam Okwulehie, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Elder Emma Adaelu among those it said were more deserving of the honour.

The party called on Governor Otti to immediately reconsider and reverse the naming of the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal after Prof. Nnenna Otti.