In his bid to assess the impact of his programmes and activities especially at the grassroots, Abia state Governor Dr Alex Otti has commenced what is tagged community engagements, which is said to be targeted at accessing firsthand information that could be further acted  upon for better governance in practice.

 At the kick-off of this  community engagement programme on Saturday, May 2nd 2026, at Agburike Community Primary School, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed commitment to  effecting people-centered governance across the state.

His Chief of Staff ( COS ) , Pastor Caleb Ajagba, who acted for him (governor),  said that the communities-engagement programme  is part of  his administration’s grassroots inclusion in governance.

“This is essentially a community engagement designed by government  to connect directly with the people in line with its  redefined governance  through a holistic vision and inclusive policies.

” What we are doing is to visit communities, interface with them, and evaluate how these policies and  programmes are impacting their daily lives”.

According  to the Governor, who said that the exercise  also provides an opportunity for government to move beyond assumptions and obtain authentic feedback from the grassroots, expressed delight at the overwhelming testimonies of the residents, who also identified some developmental projects and improvements effected and being effected by the Otti administration in their communities.

The Chief of Staff ( Dr Ajagba ) described as gratifying , to hear  directly  that the responses of the people, that can’t be influenced to speak otherwise,  are  genuine from their hearts.

” They have clearly identified projects and confirmed that governance has truly reached them at their grassroots under this administration,” the COS reported.

Governor Otti, assured  that  ongoing projects  his administration initiated in the area and across the state , including roads, would be completed in record time.

In the course of this exercise, the people are being  sensitized  on the importance of  their obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the forthcoming registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in view of that another PVC  Registration opportunity/window  will be available from May 4 to August.

 ” While it is commendable that people are expressing support for us, it is important that they are fully empowered to exercise their civic rights, by registering to obtain their the PVC” governor Otti emphasised.

The Agburike Nsulu community leaders namely, the President General , Hon Oji Ikechukwu,  Mrs Ngozi Israel , and  Dr. Sir Jesse Odu, who spoke in turns, prayed for the reelection of governor Otti  in the 2027 election for a second term.

They assured  to register to obtain their  PVC registration and  National Identification Number (NIN) to qualify as voters and  described the interactive  forum  as a demonstration of responsiveness and accessible governance.

The COS during the visit also inspected  some government projects  including  the dilapidated buildings at the Agburike Community Primary School,  which the state government  had indicated would be reconstructed