FERNAD demands peaceful, respectful politics from Gov. Otti, Kalu ahead of 2027 elections

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has cautioned and demanded respectful public discourse between the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu of the House of Representatives ahead of 2027.

According to the Executive Director, FENRAD Nigeria, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, they are calling for restraint, respect for democratic norms, and institutional safeguards to ensure that the forthcoming 2027 electoral cycle in Abia remains free, fair, inclusive and peaceful.

“Context of the remarks. In a live session, Governor Alex Otti warned that persons “planning to write election results” in the upcoming 2027 Abia gubernatorial election should “prepare their will” rather than expect to manipulate outcomes. He framed this as a caution against undemocratic practices in the state.

“Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu addressed a large gathering of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Umuahia, declaring that the APC will “take over Abia State in 2027” through the people’s vote and not by force. He explicitly stated:
We are not going to take over this state by force… we are going to use the vote of the masses.”

“He also criticized the performance of the current Abia government, suggesting that despite large funds, the outcomes did not match previous administrations,” he explained.

He further said that these remarks — on both sides of the political divide — raise concerns about escalating rhetoric, potential intimidation, and risks to the democratic environment in Abia State.

“Democracy thrives on open competition, respect for dissent, and adherence to rule‑based processes. The right of opposition parties and interest groups to critique government performance is fundamental.

“Rhetoric from both government and opposition must not intimidate or marginalize political opponents, civil society actors, the media, or ordinary citizens. Even if metaphorical, statements like “prepare your will” or “we will take over” can raise anxieties and polarize the electorate.

“Institutional integrity matters. The upcoming election cycle must be undergirded by credible electoral administration (by Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC), impartial security agencies, transparent result‑management, and robust civic oversight. References to result‑writing, even in the abstract, should prompt safeguards rather than escalation,” he emphasized..

The FERNAD boss stressed that financial accountability and performance are relevant, but must be raised responsibly.

“Deputy Speaker Kalu’s criticism of state performance is within democratic norms; however, framing this as a call to “take over” raises the risk of conflating policy critique with pure power grab rhetoric.

” We call on the Governor and his administration to moderate language, engage critics constructively rather than threaten or dismiss them, and focus on tangible service delivery. The opposition and leaders, such as Benjamin Kalu, to ensure that their messaging emphasises democratic competition, not domination, and respects the rights of all political actors.

“Security and election agencies are to monitor public discourse, ensure no intimidation or unlawful coercion emerges, and enforce electoral laws impartially. Media and civil society to scrutinise public statements, foster civic education, and ensure voters are informed about their rights, registration processes, and how results should be handled”, he explained.

FENRAD urged the state government, opposition parties and civic stakeholders in Abia to convene a “pre‑election civic compact” to agree on respectful conduct, electoral transparency, and non‑intimidation.

“We will deploy observers (in partnership with local organisations) of public political rallies, statements, and campaigns, tracking rhetoric and documenting instances of potential coercion. We will launch a statewide campaign reminding citizens of their right to vote, to refuse intimidation, to report malpractice, and to engage via legal channels if they witness irregularities.

“We will work with partners to support hotlines and mobile reporting platforms so that alleged threats, coercion or result‑manipulation efforts can be logged and responded to promptly. We call on broadcast and print media in Abia to devote space to fact‑checking high‑profile statements (such as those by Governor Otti and Deputy Speaker Kalu), to enable the public to hold leaders accountable for their words and actions.

“The people of Abia State deserve peaceful, inclusive and democratic elections, not heightening of tensions through inflammatory rhetoric. FENRAD stands ready to partner with all stakeholders for a credible 2027 election.

“We call on Governor Otti, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, all party leaders, security agencies and the electorate to choose dialogue over threats, accountability over intimidation, participation over apathy,” he stated.