In the ongoing Abia State Local Government election, Governor Alex Otti, along with his wife, cast his vote on Saturday, at Unit 017, Ahiafor, Umuru-Umuehim Nvosi in Isialangwa South Local Government Area at exactly 12:19 p.m.
Governor Otti, in an interview with NewsNGR after casting his vote, shared his thoughts on how the election was going.
“Starting from here, you can see that everything is peaceful and people are coming out, voting, and leaving. So I believe, like you can see, that it’s peaceful. Now, I’ve also been monitoring what is happening in the other local governments’ polling units, about 4,062 of them, and the report I get is that everything has been peaceful and smooth, except a few skirmishes in places like Ohafia and Obingwa.
As soon as we got information that some people were trying to disrupt the election, we mobilized security men and they’ve brought everything under control. So I believe all is going well so far”, he remarked.
Governor Otti has always encouraged Abia voters to prioritize candidates’ credibility and competence over party affiliation. When asked if he believes the election results will align with this call, he said, “Alright, so the point remains that political parties are platforms for running elections. And like you would notice, a lot of political parties have problems, but irrespective of problems that they have, we have advocated that people should vote candidates that are credible, that have competence, that can deliver.”
He gave an example of the mayor of Aba North, who recently completed an administrative building within 11 months of appointment. This, he said, shows the importance of voting for leaders who can bring real progress.
“I believe that the outcome of the election would synchronize with that call that I’ve been making. Because people have also been talking about it, saying they are going to vote people who have capacity”, Otti expressed in confidence.
The governor did not fail to remind voters of the impact of their decisions, noting the importance of electing capable leaders at the grassroots level.
“It’s a local government election, so we all know our people, we know ourselves. So if you go and vote the wrong candidate, then you should be ready to also deal with the outcome of the choice you are making today,” he said.
As the Abia Local Government election continues, the Governor is hoping for a peaceful and democratic process that will bring about responsible leaders at the local level while still believing in his people to make the right choices.