Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, has said the work of Abia State Governor Alex Otti will speak for him as he seeks re-election in the 2027 governorship election.
Bishop Echema made the remarks on Sunday, September 20, 2026, during a thanksgiving Mass at Christ the King Catholic Cathedral in Aba marking his 40th anniversary of priestly ordination. Multiple reports of the event said the bishop also described Otti as a man of integrity.
The bishop’s comments were made in the presence of the governor and other Catholic leaders and government officials attending the anniversary celebration.
Bishop Echema: “The work that you have done so far will campaign for you”
While addressing the gathering, Echema said his interaction with Otti had strengthened his view of the governor’s integrity.
He said he was not campaigning for Otti but believed the governor’s record in office would speak for itself ahead of the 2027 election.
“The work that you have done so far, will campaign for you,” the bishop said, according to reports of the event.
The bishop’s comments represent his own assessment of the governor’s administration and should not be interpreted as an independent assessment by Weng Global.
Echema also referred to a recent request concerning the construction of a retirement home for Catholic priests, bishops, reverend fathers and religious sisters. He said Otti had responded to the request and described the governor as a person who keeps his word.
Otti promises funding for priests’ retirement home
Responding to the bishop, Governor Otti said he and private individuals and foundations had agreed to fund the proposed retirement home.
According to reports from the event, Otti said the project would be financed through the Alex Otti Foundation, Unubiko Foundation, Ide Udeagbara Foundation and other private individuals.
He stressed that Abia State Government funds would not be used for the construction.
“We want to take that problem off you. We will fund it. So, work will start very soon,” Otti said, according to the reports.
The governor also said the project would be carried out to a high standard.
The proposed facility is connected to the Catholic Diocese of Aba’s need to provide accommodation and support for retired members of the clergy.
Governor gives update on Abia Airport
Otti also used the occasion to provide an update on the development of the Abia Airport project at Nsulu.
According to reports from the event, the governor said construction had progressed significantly, particularly on the runway, and that work on the runway would soon be completed.
No completion date was provided in the reports reviewed by Weng Global.
Otti and Catholic Church relationship
The latest comments are not the first time Catholic leaders in Abia have publicly praised Otti’s administration.
In June 2026, the Catholic Diocese of Aba honoured Otti during a special Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church in Aba. On that occasion, Bishop Echema similarly said the governor’s work would campaign for him and described him as a man of integrity.
Earlier, in April 2025, Echema also praised projects undertaken by the Otti administration, including road reconstruction in Aba, saying the governor’s work would speak for him if he sought another term.
The Catholic Diocese of Umuahia has also previously published comments from its bishop, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, praising developments under Otti’s administration in the context of the 2027 political contest.
These statements are separate endorsements or assessments by individual Catholic leaders and should not automatically be attributed to the Catholic Church as a whole.
The 2027 political context
Otti’s political future is becoming an increasingly relevant issue in Abia as the 2027 governorship election approaches.
The bishop’s latest comments are therefore politically significant because they publicly connect the governor’s record in office with his prospects for another term.
However, Bishop Echema’s statement is an expression of his position. It does not establish how Abia voters will ultimately assess the governor’s performance or how the 2027 election will be decided.
The appropriate measure of public support will emerge through the electoral process, including voter participation, candidates, party decisions, campaigns and ultimately the results declared by the relevant electoral authorities.
For readers following Abia politics, the key issue going forward will be the evidence surrounding the administration’s projects, public finances, governance record and delivery of its stated programmes, alongside the positions and records of other political actors.
What happens next
Otti is expected to continue governing Abia while political activity ahead of the 2027 election develops.
The proposed retirement home for Catholic clergy is also expected to move toward construction following the governor’s announcement that private foundations and individuals would provide funding.
The Abia Airport project at Nsulu remains another development to watch, particularly the completion of the runway and subsequent stages of the project.
For the 2027 election itself, further developments will depend on the political parties, prospective candidates, electoral timetable and decisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The latest statement by Bishop Echema adds another public voice to the growing discussion around Otti’s record and the 2027 Abia governorship race, but it remains the bishop’s assessment rather than an established electoral outcome.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Media Today — report on Bishop Echema’s September 20, 2026 remarks.
- Akelicious — report on the September 20, 2026 anniversary celebration and Otti’s response.
- Abia State Ministry of Environment — report on the June 2026 Catholic Diocese of Aba event involving Governor Otti and Bishop Echema.
- Punch — earlier reporting on Bishop Echema’s comments concerning Otti’s 2027 prospects.
- Catholic Diocese of Umuahia — published report concerning Bishop Michael Kalu Ukpong’s comments on Otti.
