Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two prominent Nigerians, Prof. Gregory Ikechukwu Ibe, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the 2023 Abia election, and former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He described their passing as painful losses to their families, States and the nation.

In separate condolence messages, Governor Otti mourned the late Prof. Ibe, an illustrious Abian and renowned educationist, administrator and philanthropist, as well as Dr. Uduaghan, his friend and brother, whose contributions to Delta State and Nigeria earned him recognition as a medical doctor and statesman.

The Governor said Prof. Ibe’s death was particularly saddening because of his enduring contributions to education and research in Abia State and across the country.

He disclosed that, like many others, he had prayed and hoped that the respected academic and philanthropist would recover from the illness he battled for some time. However, his passing has left a painful void that words alone cannot fill.

While acknowledging the grief of the bereaved family, friends and associates, Governor Otti urged them to draw strength from the late professor’s fulfilled and impactful life.

He encouraged them not to mourn without hope but to find comfort in the values he upheld, the people he inspired and the enduring legacies he left behind.

“We cannot question God,” the Governor stated, urging the family and loved ones to preserve Prof. Ibe’s worthy virtues and contributions to humanity.

Similarly, Governor Otti described the death of Dr. Uduaghan, whose passing was announced on Monday, October 19, 2026, as painful and devastating.

He recalled the former Delta State Governor as an accomplished medical doctor, an illustrious son of Delta State and a statesman who used the opportunity of public leadership to positively impact his people and contribute to Nigeria’s development.

According to Otti, Dr. Uduaghan’s years of service reflected a commitment to the progress of Delta State and the advancement of the nation.

The Abia Governor further revealed that although his late friend had been ill for some time, he had continued to pray and hope for his recovery. His eventual death, he said, was a painful reminder of the limits of human expectations in the face of mortality.

Governor Otti urged the Uduaghan family to take solace in the former governor’s eventful life and the positive difference he made in the lives of others, rather than allow grief to overshadow the enduring value of his contributions.

In both condolence messages, Governor Otti, on behalf of his family, the government and people of Abia State, extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, friends and associates, as well as the governments and people of Abia and Delta States.

He prayed that God would comfort all those affected by the losses and grant the departed eternal rest.

The deaths of the two prominent figures have brought renewed attention to their respective contributions to public life, education, philanthropy and governance, leaving behind legacies that their families, associates and communities will continue to remember.

Governor Alex Otti has charged newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries and key government appointees to uphold high standards of excellence and integrity, reiterating his administration’s commitment to meritocracy and transparency in public service appointments.

​Speaking during the official swearing-in ceremony at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti emphasized that the era of appointing senior public officers based on patronage or quota considerations has given way to an uncompromising standard of competence.

​Governor Otti detailed the multi-stage digital screening process that yielded the current cohort of leadership, highlighting that selection was strictly driven by capacity rather than state of origin or geopolitical zone.
​”Before now, appointments like these were based on other considerations but merit. What we have done since 2023 is to ensure that appointments are strictly based on merit. You applied electronically, sat for a computer-based test, and scaled through oral interviews with the final round leading to the final selection. We don’t care where you come from; what matters to us is that you have the capacity to do the job.”

​Outlining the key highlights of the selection process, the Governor noted significant milestones for inclusivity and governance.
​” Out of the newly sworn-in cohort of 11 top appointees, women account for seven positions, proving that merit-based processes naturally elevate qualified female leaders.”
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The Governor cited recent civil service recruitment where 4,075 teachers were selected out of nearly 28,000 applicants, Governor Otti affirmed that his administration actively reviews processes to ensure no qualified person is left behind due to oversight.

​He ,however, stated that the administration prioritizes skill and proven track record over state of origin or federal character constraints.

​Governor Otti ​reminded the newly inaugurated officers that public office is a divine trust, and admonished them against compromising their values or betraying the confidence reposed in them.
​”Promotion comes neither from the east nor west nor south, but from God. The worst thing you will do to yourself is to try to disgrace God, because you can only end up disgracing yourself. I will be looking at you to lead and distinguish yourself for excellence and more excellence.”

​Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries, Mrs. Uwaoma Ajike expressed appreciation to the Governor for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that they would discharge their responsibilities diligently and contribute to the actualization of the New Abia agenda.

Similarly, Mr. Godwin Adindu, who spoke on behalf of the other appointees, thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve and assured him of their commitment to delivering on their respective mandates.

The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries are:
Mrs. Uwaoma Ajike
Mrs. Rollingstone Frances Ogechi
Mrs. Okoro Precious Uma
Mrs. Nwaogwugwu Peace C.
Mr. Uwajimgba Vincent Uchechukwu
Mr. Jackson Sunday Onyebuchi
Mrs. Ukpabi Ngozi Juliet
Mrs. Chinyere Josephine Kanno
Mrs. Egesie Ijeoma Michelle
Mrs. Ogugbue Kelechi Stella

Other appointees inaugurated are:

Mr. Godwin Adindu – Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA).
Ms. Sandra Ivonye-Ntofon – Chief Executive Officer, Abia Industrial and Innovation Park.
Mr. Vincent Onyembi – Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on National Assembly Matters.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has signed four landmark laws to strengthen the state’s criminal justice system, protect citizens’ rights, promote restorative justice and streamline the administration of Abia State University (ABSU).

The laws were signed at Government House, Umuahia, following their passage by the Abia State House of Assembly.
The newly enacted legislation comprises the Abia State University Amendment Law of 2026,
the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 6 of 2026,
the Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026 and the Abia State Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026.

A major highlight of the reforms is the prohibition of proxy arrests and the use of criminal arrest procedures to settle civil disputes or enforce private contracts.
The laws also provide for a Sex Offenders Register and strengthen protections against sexual offences, harassment, spousal violence, cybercrime, child exploitation and kidnapping.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Governor Otti said laws must be reviewed periodically to reflect changing societal realities.
He added that effective implementation and accountability were essential to maintaining public order.
“I think laws sometimes become obsolete, and when that happens, there may be a need to amend them to reflect the realities of the time,” the Governor stated.

He ,however, stressed that the existence of legislation alone was insufficient without consequences for violations.
“When there are laws and people respect them, everything works like clockwork. But when there are no consequences for breaking the law, there is a problem.

Having the law is one thing, but implementing it and ensuring that the law applies is another,” Otti said.
On the university amendment, the Governor explained that consolidating ABSU’s operations at its main campus in Uturu would reduce duplicated costs and enable the institution to maximise shared facilities and infrastructure.

He also called for continued legislative action to address emerging challenges, including substance abuse, and urged relevant authorities to work together to ensure effective enforcement of the new laws.
The Governor assured residents that implementation would begin immediately, with plans to translate the legislation into local languages, train relevant stakeholders and establish measurable performance standards for law enforcement and judicial institutions.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, presented the bills for executive assent, saying they had undergone the required legislative procedures. He emphasised the need for caution in criminal justice legislation because of its implications for human lives and citizens’ rights.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, said the reforms would improve access to justice, strengthen accountability and introduce alternative mechanisms for resolving eligible cases.
The restorative justice framework provides a voluntary, supervised process for victim reparation and offender rehabilitation but excludes serious offences, including capital crimes, terrorism, kidnapping, corruption and financial crimes.

The reforms also provide for a monitoring mechanism to improve coordination among justice-sector institutions while safeguarding judicial independence. The Commissioner disclosed that the state would translate the laws into Igbo to make their provisions more accessible to residents.

The new laws represent a major step in the Otti administration’s efforts to modernise Abia’s legal framework, with their effectiveness expected to depend on consistent enforcement and implementation across the state.