A significant show of grassroots support has emerged in Abia State as the Ukwa La Ngwa community donated ₦100 million to support the re‑election bid of Governor Alex Otti ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The contribution was announced on Friday, January 30, 2026, during a grand civic reception organised in his honour at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, signalling strong local endorsement of his leadership and developmental agenda.
In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Njoku Ukoha, the donation was raised collectively by members of the community to assist with the purchase of Otti’s nomination form and support his political campaign.
The event brought together various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders and political figures, reflecting broad civic participation.
The chairman of the Steering Committee for the Ukwa La Ngwa Civic Reception and Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the amount was raised through collective contributions, adding that the community was willing to provide additional support if necessary.
He described the donation as an expression of confidence in Otti’s governance and achievements to date.
Governor Alex Otti, in his remarks at the reception, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming show of support.
He thanked the community for their endorsement and encouraged residents to continue engaging in civic duties such as voter registration ahead of the 2027 polls, highlighting that political participation and community involvement are key to democratic success.
“Our style is not to flag off and go home. We want the five‑star hotel to start functioning by next year,” the governor said, referencing ongoing infrastructure projects such as the reconstruction of the Enyimba Hotel by Radisson Blu and the scheduled commissioning of Ovom Road on February 25, 2026.
The civic reception also featured comments from Senator Adolphus Wabara, Board of Trustees Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who described the event as “a people’s verdict” on Otti’s performance and governance.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Darlington Nwokocha, also spoke in support of the governor’s achievements across sectors, noting that his leadership had earned him widespread backing.
Traditional rulers from the Ukwa La Ngwa area reaffirmed their support, while cultural performances and community displays underscored the event’s celebratory atmosphere.
The sizeable donation reflects a broader trend of community‑driven fundraising for political campaigns, which can influence candidate positioning and grassroots mobilisation in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
For urban and peri‑urban electorates in Abia State, such community‑led financial commitments indicate heightened political engagement and the willingness of residents to participate actively in shaping governance outcomes.
Analysts say that early financial support from key constituencies can boost a candidate’s visibility and campaign planning, particularly in competitive environments with multiple aspirants.
The Ukwa La Ngwa community’s donation of ₦100 million to support Governor Alex Otti’s re‑election bid signals robust grassroots confidence in his leadership and underlines a growing trend of civic participation in electoral processes.
As momentum builds ahead of the 2027 governorship election, community‑level endorsements and financial backing could play a notable role in shaping campaign dynamics and voter mobilisation in Abia State.
