28/05/2026
The immortalization of Dr. Nnenna Oti by the Abia State government came to me as a great joy, relief and also encouragement. Prof. Nnenna was the INEC Returning Officer of Abia State in 2023 elections that stood her grounds, rejected and refused to honour the bidding of enemies of democracy, who had manipulated the results, changed figures to arm twist the decisions and choices of Abians, just as it was done in 2015.
In 2015 and 2019, I was an APGA L.G Party Agent for Aba North L.G.A, alongside Hon. Emma Otti, immediate past Acting State Chairman of Labor Party and Hon. Frank. In both years, all APGA Candidates cruised to victory with landslide margins. It was not an easy fight, a lot of moves, lobbies (physical cash lobbying), physical threats, etc happened. Infacts, the likes of Hon. Iyke Nwankwo (present Dep DoP, office of the Governor) his brother, Dan Nwankwo (Biggie), those I call Lion hearts, who championed the course, had great physical injuries in those fights against such injustices. I can remember how I and my team obstructed the movement of ballots after counting at Abia Poly till 9pm, at instance of verifiable information on possible diversions on transit to L.G. collation centre, not until then Commissioner for Police and Area Commander came to es**rt us all. Cmr Onyebuchi Chukwu (present SSA on Youth Affairs) is here and can attest to what I'm saying. Same incidence repeated itself in 2019 at Boys Technical College (BTC) Aba. The military dealt with me for daring to lock down the gate. It took the intervention of the Area Commander again, upon confirmation from the INEC L.G Electoral Officer that I was right with having ward collation at that centre first.
These and many more were the sacrifices by different individuals to make sure that our votes counts. Unfortunately, by systematic defaults, the State Retruning Officers will always have the final say. In those years, all the efforts, wishes and handwork of positive minded Abians for a new Abia were allegedly thwarted at that level.
In 2023, a woman of valor came onboard and as God divinely orchestrated it, she was unmovable by money, threats, etc. She stood her grounds and upheld the mandate and voice of the people through the ballots. It was not an easy fight as usual, we all know the story. Today, Abians are reaping the rewards of that charismatic behavior, that resilient and patriotism.
Prof. Nnenna Oti deserves more than just immortalization to encourage others in the present day Nigeria where doing the rights seems impossible or hard. It is only the enemies of the ongoing reformation and transformation the whole world is witnessing in Abia State that will stand against such.
Thank you Prof. Nnenna Oti and thank you Gov. Alex C. Otti led Government for honoring her while alive by naming the newly built ultra modern Bus Terminal in Umuahia (the first of its kind in Abia). Indeed there is still hope in Nigeria.
God bless Abia State!
Jeff Obinna Okafor
Chief Convener
