A former political ally of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Prof. Moses A. Orji, has publicly urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject an invitation to commission a 6.5-kilometre road project in Aba, describing the move as a publicity stunt by an underperforming administration.

President Tinubu is reportedly scheduled to visit Abia on May 23 to inaugurate the rebuilt Port Harcourt Road, a project completed under Governor Otti’s leadership.

But in a scathing open letter released Tuesday, May 20, Orji questioned the rationale behind bringing the President to commission a single project.

“In which state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the president gone to commission just a single completed project, and nothing more?” Orji asked.

READ ALSO: South-East will reward Tinubu with votes in 2027 due to his love for Igbo – Umahi

“Why would Mr. President go to Enugu state to inaugurate seven different key projects, and then be invited to commission just one in Abia?”

Don’t Be Misled by Propaganda — Orji Warns Tinubu Against Visiting Abia

Orji accused the Otti-led administration of running a government based on “propaganda and brinkmanship,” claiming that major initiatives such as the proposed Owazza Integrated Industrial Park, including flagged-off seaports, fertiliser plants, and refineries, have not progressed beyond announcements.

He also raised concerns about uncompleted or missing infrastructure, such as the N7 billion “Recreational Facilities” project, and the state’s ongoing pension debt.

“We are the only state in the South East still owing pensioners their arrears,” he noted.

READ ALSO: Gov Otti reveals when he will retire from politics

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Referring to a previous attempt to involve Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in commissioning a minor road project near a private residence, Orji warned against what he described as efforts to deceive the public and federal authorities with token achievements.

“It could even be in the personal interest of Governor Otti that the President doesn’t come now,” Orji suggested. “Perhaps Otti needs time to put his house in order.”

The open letter signals deepening political tensions in Abia, as critics question the Otti administration’s record and motivations ahead of the high-profile presidential visit.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi is poised to declare his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election following the breakdown of coalition talks with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, multiple sources have confirmed.

Obi, who finished third in the contentious 2023 presidential election, is expected to formally announce his 2027 bid within days and may unveil a new political platform distinct from the Labour Party.

According to sources familiar with the ongoing consultations, the former Anambra State governor has categorically ruled out playing a subordinate role in any alliance, effectively ending speculation about a possible joint ticket with Atiku.

Dr. Chekwas Okorie, elder statesman and founding national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), confirmed Obi’s imminent declaration, stating, “Peter Obi will not run as anyone’s running mate. He led his team in a three-day meeting with Atiku’s team, and they could not agree on the vice-presidential offer being speculated in the media.”

Talks between both camps culminated in a recent high-stakes meeting in London, attended by Obi’s aides and a delegation led by former Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Insiders said the meeting ended without resolution.

With Obi now forging his own path, Atiku is reportedly in advanced negotiations with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu. There are strong indications that Atiku may contest on the ADC platform if reconciliation with Obi remains elusive.

“The new ADC will include a substantial part of the old CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) network. This is shaping up into a three-horse race for 2027,” Okorie said

He also hinted at internal realignments within the ADC to accommodate Atiku’s political aspirations, revealing that former ministers and key figures aligned with the defunct CPC are gravitating toward the party under the influence of El-Rufai and former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami.

When contacted, ADC National Chairman Chief Nwosu confirmed that several political figures had approached the party but declined to confirm any specific discussions with Atiku.

“The party’s flag bearer for 2027 will emerge through our national convention and primary election,” he said.

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Both Obi’s and Atiku’s camps dismissed reports of a supposed joint ticket as baseless fabrications.

“There is no such agreement. What I can officially confirm to you is that they’re working seriously with all the opposition leaders to build a very viable coalition platform… but the process is ongoing and not yet public,” said Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesperson.

Obi breaks silence on alleged VP offer from Atiku

Obi, meanwhile, has insisted that his political drive is not rooted in personal ambition. During a visit to the Anglican Bishop of Kubwa Diocese in Abuja, he emphasised the need to focus on Nigeria’s social and economic crises.

“I am in a coalition against hunger, in coalition against poverty, in coalition against the bad state of health. Politics for me is not about position; it is about doing the right thing.

“In this country, we talk about politics and abandon what we should be talking about. What we should be talking about is how we are going to educate the children,” Obi stated.

While media reports have hinted at a proposal for a one-term Atiku presidency with Obi as vice president, allegedly backed by a written agreement, Obi declined to confirm or deny the claims, maintaining his stance on principle over power.

Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has condemned a proposed bill in the National Assembly that seeks to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, declaring that he would rather serve time in prison than comply with such a law.

Speaking on Politics Today, a political programme aired on Channels Television, Agbakoba described the bill as misguided and symptomatic of a more profound misunderstanding of Nigeria’s democratic crisis.

The legal luminary fiercely opposed what he termed “forced civic participation,” arguing that voter apathy cannot be resolved through coercion.

“Look at the ridiculous one in the National Assembly about voting being compulsory. If that bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than to obey it,” he declared firmly.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Labour Party lawmaker Daniel Asama Ago sponsored the bill, which has already passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

What does the bill say?

It proposes mandatory participation in national and state elections for all Nigerians of voting age.

But Agbakoba insists that compelling citizens to vote misses the point entirely. He challenged lawmakers to examine the real reasons behind the nation’s alarmingly low voter turnout, rather than punish citizens for disengagement.

“Why would the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting?” he asked. “Why don’t they reverse the question and say, why are Nigerians not interested? What is the apathy about?”

For Agbakoba, the answer lies not in a lack of civic responsibility but in decades of exclusion, disenfranchisement, and unfulfilled political promises that have bred deep disillusionment among citizens.

“Exclusion is at the heart of Nigeria’s democratic failure,” he said, emphasising that the country’s political structure remains skewed in favour of a privileged few, leaving ordinary Nigerians alienated from meaningful political participation.

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Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Agbakoba warned that unless systemic issues are addressed, voter turnout will continue to plummet, with devastating consequences for democratic legitimacy.

“Nigeria’s political failure is the core reason behind low voter turnout. Democracy cannot succeed if it continues to serve only a select elite,” he stated.

Agbakoba’s remarks have sparked renewed public debate about the nature of civic duty, state overreach, and the real drivers of political disengagement in Nigeria.

Critics of the bill echo his concerns, suggesting that compulsory voting would infringe on individual rights and fail to address the root causes of electoral disinterest.

Supporters of the bill argue that mandatory voting could improve democratic outcomes by increasing participation and ensuring broader representation.

However, the proposal remains controversial and is likely to face significant legal and political hurdles if it advances.

As the conversation around electoral reform intensifies, Agbakoba’s outspoken stance reinforces a broader call for reforms that prioritise transparency, accountability, and genuine public engagement over compulsion.

For many observers, his defiant pledge to resist the law—at the cost of his own liberty—signals a critical juncture in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.