Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has dismissed threats by three former governors of the state to take him to court over his decision to run government affairs from his private residence in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
Speaking during his monthly media chat with journalists on Thursday, Otti said his actions did not violate any provision of the Nigerian Constitution, insisting that there is no law compelling a governor to operate strictly from a designated Government House.
The governor explained that he opted to use his residence temporarily due to the deplorable condition of the Government House he met on assumption of office. According to him, renovation work is currently ongoing to restore the facility to a functional state.
“I have looked at the Constitution and I did not see anywhere it is written that I must operate from a particular place,” Otti said. “Somebody said he will sue me for not operating from his house in Umuahia. I am waiting for the suit. My lawyers are prepared.”
He argued that the focus of his administration is on delivering good governance rather than engaging in distractions over his place of operation, adding that Abia people are more concerned about the quality of leadership and services being delivered across the state.
Otti assured residents that his government would not be swayed by what he described as “noise” from critics, stressing that ongoing projects in key sectors such as road infrastructure, education, healthcare and electricity would continue unhindered.
The governor also used the opportunity to call on Abia residents to remain vigilant and security conscious, urging them to promptly report any suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest security agencies.
He reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining development across the state, noting that his administration remains focused on improving the welfare and safety of the people, irrespective of where official duties are being carried out.
