By Our Correspondent
National News – Former councillors in Abia State have declared their support for the re-election of Governor Alex Otti in the 2027 general elections after receiving long-awaited arrears of their entitlements.
The group also endorsed Chima Anyaso as their consensus candidate for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
The endorsement was announced on Monday during a meeting held at Anyaso’s family residence in Igbere, where the former councillors gathered under their state coordinator, Tony Agbanyim.
During the meeting, the group expressed readiness to mobilise political stakeholders and grassroots supporters to ensure continuity of Otti’s administration beyond 2027.
According to the former councillors, the governor’s decision to clear outstanding arrears owed to them—some dating back many years—prompted their public declaration of support.
They described the payment as a major step toward justice and recognition for their years of service.
Several speakers at the gathering noted that some former councillors had died while waiting for the entitlements, making the governor’s intervention both timely and significant.
They said the gesture demonstrated responsive leadership and strengthened confidence in Otti’s governance approach.
The group, operating under the “Otti or Nothing” movement, also unanimously adopted Anyaso, a member of the Labour Party, as their preferred candidate for the Bende Federal Constituency seat in 2027.
According to them, their decision followed a careful evaluation of his leadership qualities, political experience, and engagement with stakeholders across the constituency.
Speaking during the meeting, Anyaso stressed the need to maintain fairness in the zoning arrangement within Bende Local Government Area.
He explained that Bende North—particularly the Umunna axis—should produce the next representative after eight years of representation by Bende South.
Anyaso also recalled stepping aside during the 2023 elections in the interest of equity and unity within the constituency.
He assured the councillors that he would respond to their call to contest the seat at the appropriate time.
He further pledged to provide quality representation and continue supporting Governor Otti’s administration if elected, while the former councillors promised to mobilise communities across the constituency to secure victory for both leaders in the 2027 elections.
