ABIA 2023: WILL ALEX OTTI FAIL THE 3RD TIME?

IN 2014, particularly during the build up to the 2015 General elections, most politicians, 70% of which were members of the T.A. Orji executive Council were already aligning with the aspiration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti to become the next Governor of Abia State, despite pitching his tent with the rival All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). For whatever it was worth, Otti BENUDECHUKWU.COM gathered was unable to manage that overwhelming goodwill. Typical of a greenhorn politician, Otti was confident that his colleagues in the banking industry who didn’t know their left from right as far as party politics was concerned could be at the forefront for him. It was widely believed what later became a disastrous outing for Otti was traced to his brilliance that did not factor the ability to apply the right political mix. This was in 2014.

Alex Otti is a renowned Banker,  economist and Investment expert. His success story as Group Managing Director (GMD) of defunct Diamond Bank PLC where he retired, throws him up as incontrovertible poster boy within the precincts of Abia politics. Otti has a towering personality that compares with the best within the corporate world.  However, majority think that his shortchanged understanding of public sector and party politics seems to diminish his stature

THE EFFECTS OF 2015 AND 2019 ON OTTI’S POLITICAL CAREER

2019 was even a more disastrous outing as Otti now came a distant 3rd behind Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is no big deal to lose elections, however when the loser appears to be one who lacks the capacity to manage fame, popularity and public goodwill, the loss becomes critical to his survival as a politician

STRENGTH

BENUDECHUKWU.COM can also authoritatively report that most credible professionals of Abia descent seem to be favorably disposed to people like Otti who are academically sound and experienced

Over the last six years, Otti has remained consistent in putting the Okezie Ikpeazu administration on its toes. Though these criticisms are often laced with naked mischief and acerbic, people believe they help to shape his personality

WEAKNESS

There is nothing in Otti’s record yet to show he has integrity issues. However, the manner in which he switched nativity ahead the 2015 elections gave him away as a man that is integrity challenged. What he gained in competence, he lost in adopting Ngwa as his place of origin against his natural Arochukwu because it was widely speculated that Ngwas would for the first time produce the Governor. Today, with the speculation that the choice of zone may shift, it is not certain if Otti will revert to his Arochukwu nativity.

In 2015, APGA enjoyed and operated within a convivial atmosphere until perhaps Otti was introduced. The rest is history because Otti left APGA a tattered, toothless and voiceless party. Coincidentally, no sooner had Otti joined APC, than their Abia chapter got enmeshed with their toughest challenges yet. With an APC in disarray, coupled with the presence of no fewer than three serial Governorship aspirants like Dr. Uche Ogah, High Chief Ikechi Emenike and Otti himself, there may not be light at the end of the tunnel for Otti. With the polarisation of APC and with Otti allegedly pitching his tent with the Orji Uzor Kalu faction of the APC, it is left to be seen, how an Emenike, believed to be in firm control of APC in Abia would handover the party Guber ticket to Otti

Closely related to this weakness is the thought of which political structure he would use to achieve his ambition. APC as at today in Abia, though the most potent opposition has been effectively  weakened by proliferation of its structures. Given that OTTI is depending on inheriting these structures, it is obvious he will inherit confusion and disarray unless there is a deliberate attempt to fix the lingering crises.

PLAN B

While this speculation appears excellent, parties are beginning to be wary of politicians who use them to further their political interests only to dump them shortly after. The case of Alex Otti and APGA would remain a locus classicus. 

One thing will remain constant. Alex Otti has long been demystified having failed on two successive occasions to win the coveted Governorship seat.

As Otti warms up to  another attempt, his third consecutively, to become Governor of Abia State, the question begging for answer is “will Otti fail again?”