…Warns Against Vote Buying, Political Violence in Abia
By Steve Oko, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that democracy remains Nigeria’s best path to development, insisting that the country’s post-1999 challenges are a result of poor leadership choices rather than a failure of the democratic system.
In his 2026 Democracy Day address titled “Of Freedom and Development,” Otti argued that Nigerians must take responsibility for strengthening democratic values such as accountability, civic engagement, and good governance.
“It is not democracy that has failed; we have only been let down by errors in our individual and collective decisions,” he said.
The governor paid tribute to the heroes of June 12 and other pro-democracy activists, noting that Nigeria’s current freedoms were achieved through significant sacrifices against military rule.
He cautioned citizens against electoral apathy, vote buying, and participation in political violence, stressing that democracy can only function effectively when voters remain active and responsible.
“The only reward for electoral indifference is misery,” he warned, adding that citizens who sell their votes or support divisive politics contribute to the weakening of democratic institutions.
Otti also urged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable while remaining realistic about governance, saying progress may be gradual but must remain measurable.
Speaking on his administration, the governor said democratic governance had enabled Abians to reclaim their development trajectory through investments in infrastructure, security, education, and social welfare.
He expressed confidence that ongoing reforms in Abia State would endure, declaring that the state would not return to what he described as an era of mediocrity.
Otti called on citizens to stay informed and actively participate in governance, emphasizing that sustaining democracy is a shared responsibility.
