Is Governor Alex Otti’s victory in 2027 going to be as a result of Power of Incumbency or Power of Services?
This debate raged almost violently on Sunday at a downtown open ground. I argued for Power of Services.
I stood firmly that services have an inherent disarming force and that the governor has won the hearts of Abia State people with his excellent services. I argued that his performance index is the testimonial he would flaunt and brandish to the electorate.
There is no denying the fact that the Peter Obi wave may not blow again with the same conquering force and pandemic energy as was the case in 2023. But, the truth is that Otti has built his own wave in Abia State. This wave is visible and infectious.
Otti has built a stand-alone force through performance and excellent stewardship. The masses have gone through series of organic political evolution, from Mamacracy to the reign of cabals and can willingly testify to the overwhelming force of services and performance. The masses are witnesses to the uncommon transformation and Otti’s Midas touch that has changed the state.
No, it is not going to be by power of incumbency. The myth of power of incumbency has severally been demystified in Nigeria. It was demystified in Ekiti State in 2014 when Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress. It was demystified in 2015 when General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. It was even demystified here in Abia State in 2023 when Senator Enyi Abaribe defeated incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. The list is long.
It therefore follows that the power of incumbency is an old and obsolete theory in Nigeria. It is no more reliable to think that the Chief Executive has a larger-than-life personality and power to influence and dictate the movement of power and even influence electoral victories to his favour and choice. Agreed that the Chief Executive has control over the machinery of government but Otti has worked out his political destiny as far as 2027 is concerned.
Abia State masses have become politically concious and aware of their environment. They now make independent comparison and voluntary decisions. They are living witnesses to the new city of Aba and Umuahia, clean cities with street lights and metro-buses with bus stops; organised cities without touts and commotion but free-flowing traffic. The masses are living in the communities and plying the newly constructed roads to their villages and community. Their joy is derived from the power of services.
It is this power that Otti deploys as he matches to the polls of Phillipi in 2027.
Adindu writes from Umuahia, Abia State capital
