Abia State’s political arena was stirred this week as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state disputed Governor Alex Otti’s claims regarding inherited debt payments from past administrations. The PDP asserted that prior administrations led by the party had left no outstanding debt, directly challenging Otti’s statements about settling inherited financial burdens.
In a speech on Thursday, Governor Otti disclosed that his administration had cleared N90 billion of what he described as a N191.3 billion debt inherited upon taking office in May 2023. Otti detailed the financial legacy left by previous leaders, noting, “I inherited N191.3 billion from my predecessor in May 2023. My predecessor inherited about N35 billion from his predecessor in 2015.” He emphasized that his government had met its fiscal obligations without incurring any new debt, affirming, “We still pay salaries and pensions every month. And I have not borrowed a kobo from anybody.”
Reacting to these assertions, Abia PDP chairman Abraham Amah issued a statement on Saturday, rebuffing Otti’s allegations and requesting transparency. “The attention of Abia PDP has been drawn to recent claims you made regarding the payment of N90 billion to contractors in our state, which you allege to be debts incurred by the previous PDP-led administration,” Amah said, adding that the party was “unaware of the existence of such a debt incurred by the immediate past PDP administration.”
Amah urged the governor to release documented proof of the alleged debt to substantiate his claims. He questioned the basis for the N90 billion payout, which Otti stated was part of efforts to clear inherited financial obligations. “This staggering amount warrants immediate scrutiny, and we urge you to provide clarity on how this figure was determined and the basis for these payments,” Amah emphasized. He further noted that Abia residents deserve transparency in financial dealings, warning that trust in leadership could be undermined without open communication.
As the dispute over Abia’s fiscal history intensifies, residents await a clearer picture of the state’s financial trajectory under successive administrations.