‘Write your will’: Otti not threatening violence in Abia – State Govt

The Abia State Government has clarified the recent statement by Governor Alex Otti in which he said that those who wish to write election results should first write their wills.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, the government explained that Governor Otti’s remark was in line with constitutional and legal principles, and not a threat of violence.

The government, which said the statement had been misinterpreted, noted that what the governor said should be seen as a figurative expression.

“Governor Otti’s statement, in which he advised those planning to ‘write election results’ in future elections to ‘first write their wills,’ was neither a threat nor a call to violence.

“Rather, it was a figurative expression underscoring his administration’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, the sanctity of the ballot, and the protection of the people’s mandate,” the statement read.

Quoting the 1999 Constitution, the Abia State Government reiterated that sovereignty belongs to the people from whom the government derives its mandate, adding that the 2022 Electoral Act criminalizes election malpractice.

The Commissioner, who described Governor Alex Otti as a man of peace, said he had not engaged in Gestapo-style intimidation or detained perceived political opponents since assuming office on May 29, 2023, despite their malicious criticisms.