The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a scathing critique of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, accusing his administration of operating under a veil of secrecy regarding the cost of key projects and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) figures, just ahead of his second anniversary in office.
The party, in a strongly worded statement released on Sunday in Abuja by its Abia State Publicity Secretary, Mazi Eric Ikwuagwu, alleged that voices once aligned with Otti’s government are now raising red flags over financial mismanagement and lack of accountability.
The statement, titled “Calls for Accountability Mount as Critics Challenge Abia State’s Financial Management Under Governor Otti”, criticized the administration for being intolerant of constructive opposition and for attempting to silence critical voices instead of addressing concerns transparently.
Highlighting examples, Ikwuagwu cited Engr. Eke O. Ako, a respected Abia-born engineer based in Scotland who had been a vocal critic of the previous Ikpeazu administration. According to him, Engr. Ako, once hailed as a symbol of integrity by Otti and his allies, is now being smeared and accused of partisanship for applying the same scrutiny to the current government.
“Engr. Ako was never accused of being sponsored when he criticized former Governor Ikpeazu,” Ikwuagwu said. “Today, simply because he is demanding answers from the Otti-led administration, he is labelled a political tool. That’s hypocrisy at its peak. Eke Ako is not for sale.”
The PDP spokesperson also referenced Chief Obinna Oriaku, a former finance commissioner under the past administration, known for his outspoken stance on public finance. “Oriaku was once celebrated by the very people in power today as bold and uncompromising. Now, because he’s exposing what he describes as unprecedented looting under Otti’s leadership, he’s being vilified,” Ikwuagwu said.
He further alleged that both men have based their criticisms on data extracted from the government’s own official publications, such as quarterly budget performance reports.
“From these reports, questions have emerged around expenditures such as N6.5 billion on recreational facilities, N10 billion on capacity building, N7 billion on ICT infrastructure, and N54 billion on the renovation of non-existent public schools—a combined figure exceeding N200 billion,” he stated.
The PDP also questioned the justification for N36.5 billion allegedly spent on the 5.7km Port Harcourt Road, translating to over N6.1 billion per kilometre, claiming it to be the most expensive road project in Africa.
“Rather than provide clarifications or rebuttals to these serious allegations, the administration has focused on discrediting the messengers, leaving the core issues unaddressed,” Ikwuagwu said. “No press statement, no official response—only coordinated media distractions.”
The party accused the state government of diverting attention from the revelations by staging publicity stunts and alleged media manipulation, warning that “no amount of PR or foreign media involvement can erase the facts or suppress the demand for transparency.”
“The people of Abia deserve honest answers, not political theatrics. Accountability is not optional—it’s a democratic obligation,” the statement concluded.
