APC Accuses Otti of Misleading Abians on Omenuko Bridge, Other Federal Projects
“A fresh political dispute has erupted in Abia State over the ownership of major infrastructure projects, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing Governor Alex Otti’s administration of attempting to “mislead the public” about federal government projects being executed in the state. The opposition party insists that key projects—including the reconstruction of the Omenuko Bridge and sections of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road—are federal initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, implemented through a collaboration between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of misrepresenting federal government projects in the state, urging the governor to “stop misleading Abians” regarding the ownership of several ongoing infrastructure works.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the APC said it had observed what it described as “an unfortunate and recurring lack of coordination in information management” within the current administration.
According to the party, Governor Otti’s spokesman, Ferdinand Ekeoma, frequently makes public comments on issues “about which he appears to possess little or no knowledge.”
The APC questioned whether the situation was a result of “inadequate briefing, reluctance to seek clarification from the governor, or the possibility that the governor himself provides insufficient information to his aides.”
The party’s reaction followed remarks made during the recently concluded APC congress in Abia State, where the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the party in the state, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, addressed party supporters and encouraged Abians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in future elections.
During his address, Kalu highlighted several infrastructure projects currently being executed in Abia State under the Tinubu administration. Among them were the reconstruction of the Omenuko Bridge and sections of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road.
However, the APC alleged that instead of seeking clarification on the projects, Ekeoma responded with what it described as “uncouth remarks and gutter language” directed at Kalu for stating what the party insists are verifiable facts.
“For the sake of clarity and to prevent further attempts to mislead the people of Abia State, the facts surrounding the Omenuko Bridge project are straightforward,” the statement said.
According to the APC, Governor Otti himself had previously acknowledged that the Omenuko Bridge reconstruction is a federal government project.
The party pointed to a post on the governor’s official social media handle dated November 1, 2025, during an inspection tour conducted by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on federal government projects across the state.
The statement explained that the reconstruction of the Omenuko Bridge was originally awarded to Setraco Construction Company in 2015 and later reviewed in 2023.
It further stated that Governor Otti subsequently wrote to President Tinubu through the Federal Ministry of Works, seeking approval for the Abia State Government to undertake the reconstruction with the understanding that the Federal Government would reimburse the state.
The APC said a similar arrangement applies to the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, a 43-kilometre federal highway project attracted by former federal lawmaker Hon. Sam Onuigbo.
The project was initially awarded in 2018, with approximately 19 kilometres already completed before the Abia State Government took responsibility for the remaining 27 kilometres, largely due to property encroachments beginning from Opet Junction through Ikwuano.
“The state government agreed to handle compensation payments and complete the remaining section while pursuing reimbursement from the Federal Government,” the statement said.
The APC also listed other ongoing federal government road projects in Abia State, including:
Owerrinta–Umuikaa Road dualization, currently under construction.
Onuimo–Tower Road dualization, also ongoing.
Ohafia–Arochukwu Road, another strategic federal road project presently underway.
The party explained that the working
arrangement between the Federal Government and Abia State Government operates under a “Build and We Will Pay” framework, which allows states to execute federal road projects with approval while the Federal Government reimburses the full cost.
“Under this framework approved by the Federal Government, the projects remain fundamentally federal government projects since the Tinubu administration bears the ultimate responsibility for reimbursing the cost,” the APC said.
The party argued that Governor Otti sought and obtained federal approval through the Ministry of Works before embarking on the projects.
“This clearly shows that the projects are products of cooperation between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government, with the state expected to receive reimbursement,” the statement added.
The APC also accused the Abia State Government of failing to transparently disclose the full cost of the projects to residents.
According to the party, “the full cost details of these projects have not been transparently disclosed to Abians,” while alleging that the project costs may have been inflated.
The party further questioned why the state government would seek federal approval and reimbursement if the projects were solely state initiatives.
“If, as Mr. Ekeoma claims, these projects are entirely achievements of the Abia State Government, why did the state government seek Federal Government approval before executing them, and why has it formally applied for reimbursement?” the APC asked.
The party warned that if the Abia State Government continues to deny the Federal Government recognition for the projects, it may petition the Federal Ministry of Works and the Debt Management Office (DMO) to suspend reimbursement processes currently being considered.
It also threatened to petition the National Assembly to review and possibly halt reimbursement requests related to the projects if the dispute persists.
“The Abia APC will no longer stand by while Governor Otti’s administration denies President Tinubu the recognition he deserves for the goodwill he has shown to Abians through infrastructure projects, federal appointments and the establishment of federal institutions in the state,” the statement concluded.
