Newscenter Media News 
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has indicated its willingness to hand Abia State Governor Alex Otti the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 election should he choose to defect.
The chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, disclosed this while commenting on the political future of the Abia governor and the party’s strategy ahead of the next general elections.
Wabara said PDP would readily receive Otti and support him for a second term, describing the governor as a formidable political actor whose performance has earned respect across party lines.
“If he makes up his mind to join the Big Umbrella, the party will not hesitate to give him the governorship ticket in 2027,” Wabara said.
He spoke on Sunday in Umuahia at the unveiling of the Abia State Government’s 25-Year Development Plan, which attracted political leaders, stakeholders and development partners.
Wabara noted that Otti’s record in office has made him appealing to several political parties, stressing that effective leadership and tangible results now outweigh party affiliation.
He said the growing interest in the governor from different political platforms reflects the achievements recorded under his administration.
The former Senate President also said PDP is currently undergoing a repositioning process aimed at rebuilding trust and strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He explained that the party’s national leadership is focused on restructuring and presenting a more credible and attractive platform for aspirants.
Wabara added that the South-East remains a stronghold of PDP and that Otti’s possible defection would significantly boost the party’s influence in the region.
According to him, PDP is committed to attracting progressive, performance-oriented politicians capable of reviving the party’s relevance in Abia State and across the country.
Commending the Abia 25-Year Development Plan, Wabara described it as a strategic blueprint capable of transforming the state if effectively implemented.
He praised the governor’s strides in infrastructure, healthcare, education, industrial development and security.
He also lauded the introduction of electric buses for urban transport, noting that the initiative would ease hardship and enhance mobility for residents.
“As an elder statesman and stakeholder in Abia politics, I have a moral obligation to acknowledge performance, irrespective of party affiliation,” he said.
He added that many Abians are returning to the state to witness the changes, insisting that good governance should transcend partisan divides.
According to him, Otti has placed Abia State back on the developmental path envisioned by its founding leaders, adding that joining PDP would further strengthen the governor’s political prospects in 2027.
The BoT chairman recalled that he had earlier praised Otti during the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, a move that initially attracted criticism.
“When I hailed the governor for rehabilitating the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road, which is a federal road, some people called for my head,” he said.
“Today, I have been vindicated. Abians across political divides are celebrating the evidence of good governance in the state.”
Wabara also urged the governor to seriously consider PDP, citing what he described as leadership challenges within the Labour Party.
He argued that PDP offers a stronger national structure and wider reach, which would be crucial in withstanding pressure from the ruling party ahead of the 2027 polls.
“In 2027, the governor will require a platform with national spread and the capacity to resist intimidation, and the PDP provides that,” he said.
2027: We’ll give Otti governorship ticket if he joins PDP – Wabara