Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to merit-based appointments, declaring that political party affiliation and state of origin play no role in the selection of public officials in the state.
Governor Otti made the declaration on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia during the wedding ceremony of his Aide-de-Camp, Emeka Ogbonna. He emphasized that competence, capacity, and performance remain the only criteria for appointments under his leadership.
“What gave him the job is merit. At the time I decided to give him the job, I didn’t know where he came from,” the Governor said, referring to his ADC.
He further stated: “We don’t care whether she’s APC or PDP or YPP or whatever. Those are not important. We don’t even care whether she’s from Abia or from Delta or from anywhere. We are interested in what is in her brain.”
Governor Otti cited the recent appointment of Dr. Ezinne Benjamin-Kalu as Chairman of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board as a clear example of this policy. He revealed that the selection followed a rigorous interview process involving seven candidates, in which the chosen candidate not only emerged first but outperformed the runner-up by a wide margin.
“So, in Abia here, we are open to anybody. Just come with what is inside your brain. We don’t want to know where you come from. We don’t want to know your political affiliation. We want results. We want performance,” he added.
The Governor noted that this merit-driven approach has been consistently applied across all sectors, including the recent recruitment of over 5,000 teachers and the ongoing plans to recruit an additional 4,000. He stressed that appointing qualified individuals is central to effective governance and improved service delivery in Abia State.
Governor Otti’s remarks underscore the administration’s vision of building a competent, inclusive, and results-oriented government that prioritizes the best interests of Abia people above partisan or parochial considerations.
The Governor continues to call on qualified professionals from Abia and beyond to contribute their expertise towards the development of the state.