The Peoples Democratic Party has signalled its readiness to back Abia State Governor Alex Otti for a second term in 2027 if he decides to defect to the party.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said the party would present Otti as its governorship candidate without hesitation should he make the move, citing the governor’s performance in office as a major attraction.

Wabara spoke on Sunday in Umuahia while responding to questions from journalists shortly after the Abia State Government unveiled its 25 Year Development Plan.

According to the former Senate President, Otti’s record in governance has made him appealing across party lines, fueling growing interest from several political platforms ahead of the next election cycle.

“If he makes up his mind to join the Big Umbrella, the party will not hesitate to give him the governorship ticket in 2027,” Wabara said. He added that performance, not party loyalty, would ultimately shape political decisions going forward.

Wabara attributed the renewed confidence in the PDP to ongoing efforts by the party’s National Working Committee to reposition and rebuild its credibility. He said the reforms, led by Senator Tanimu Turaki, have strengthened the party’s appeal to serious aspirants in Abia State and beyond.

He also described the South-East as a traditional base of the PDP, noting that Otti’s eventual defection would boost the party’s prospects in the region and help restore its influence in national politics.

Meanwhile, the PDP, according to Wabara, is intensifying consultations to attract forward-looking leaders capable of driving the party’s revival ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Turning to governance, Wabara praised Otti for launching the Abia 25 Year Development Plan, describing it as a clear blueprint for long-term growth and stability in the state. He said the document reflects a commitment to sustainable development beyond electoral cycles.

He also commended the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, industry and security. In particular, he noted that the introduction of electric buses for urban mass transit would help reduce transportation costs and ease daily hardship for residents.

“As an elder statesman and stakeholder in Abia politics, I have a moral duty to acknowledge performance regardless of party affiliation,” Wabara said. “Good governance should never be sacrificed because of partisan considerations.”

According to him, the improvements under Otti’s administration have renewed public confidence and encouraged many Abians to return home to witness the changes firsthand.

Wabara said the governor had placed the state back on the development path envisioned by its founding leaders, adding that a move to the PDP would further strengthen his political chances in 2027.

He recalled his earlier support for the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, a federal road that had been neglected for years. At the time, Wabara said, his stance attracted criticism from some quarters.

“People called for my head when I praised the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Road,” he said. “Today, those criticisms have been overtaken by facts. Abians across political divides are celebrating visible progress.”

Wabara urged Otti to seriously consider joining the PDP, particularly against the backdrop of what he described as leadership challenges within the Labour Party.

Looking ahead to 2027, he argued that Otti would require a party with national reach and the institutional capacity to withstand pressure from the ruling party, which he accused of encouraging internal crises within opposition platforms.

The PDP governed Abia State from 1999 to 2015 before losing power to the All Progressives Congress. Another major shift occurred in 2023 when Otti of the Labour Party won the governorship, ending years of PDP and APC dominance.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Otti has focused on infrastructure renewal, public sector reforms and fiscal discipline, drawing attention from political actors beyond his party.

As the PDP works to rebuild ahead of 2027, its leadership has repeatedly stressed the need to attract credible figures and reclaim its influence in the South-East. Against this backdrop, speculation over possible political realignments in Abia continues to grow, fueled by internal disputes within the Labour Party and wider manoeuvring among opposition parties.