Governor Otti Dismisses Rumors of Disunity Among South-East Governors; Urges Regional Leaders to ‘Go Together’ for Development

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has “flipped the script” on critics claiming there is a split within the South-East Governors’ Forum. Speaking at a gathering of traditional rulers from across the South-East and South-South in Umuahia on Friday, March 20, 2026, the Governor insisted that the bond between the region’s leaders remains “intact and focused.”

According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku, Otti described the perceived friction as something people have “created in their imagination.” He explained that each of the five South-East states faces unique local realities, meaning their development strategies will naturally look different. “What one state requires may differ from another,” Otti said, adding that these variations should be seen as a “Solution” to specific state needs rather than a sign of discord.

The Governor used the forum to advocate for even deeper collaboration, not just within the South-East, but with the South-South region as well. He emphasized that for the “Old Eastern Region” to thrive, justice and merit must be the foundation of leadership. He pointed to his own administration’s decision to appoint a non-indigene as Head of Service in Abia as proof that fairness should always come before “tribal politics.”

As the monarchs and stakeholders concluded the meeting, the message from the “Umuahia Declaration” was clear: political party lines must not stop the collective push for security and economic growth. With the 2027 elections slowly appearing on the horizon, Otti’s call for a “union of wills” serves as a reminder that regional progress depends on the governors moving as one unit.