By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that the will of God and the mandate of the people will determine who wins the 2027 governorship election in his State, warning that nobody should contemplate rigging results against people’s wills.

Otti, who sounded the warning at the Government House, Umuahia, on Thursday, during October edition of Alex Otti Speaks to Abians, said that those planning rigging should first write their wills.

Governor Otti was reacting to a question from a journalist concerning the recent statements credited to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who said that his party, the APC, will take over the governance of Abia in 2027.

Otti, who declared that he is not afraid of threat by the Deputy Speaker’s statements, said that Kalu was entitled to contest the 2027 governorship election in Abia but must learn to play according to the rules.

“I have heard that some people around him say oh, they must take over this State, they must write results but the only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else before that time.

“You know what it is? Their will”, Otti said. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Otti's Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

The Abia Governor, who described Kalu as his friend and younger brother, said he has forgiven him for berating his personality and his administration, even as he maintained that the peace and decorum in Abia should not be destroyed.

Otti used the media chat to reiterate that he is not joining the All Progressive Congress, APC, but still a member of the Labour Party.