Governor Otti Clarifies Local Government Law, Affirms Compliance with Supreme Court Judgment

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed that the newly signed Local Government Law passed by the Abia State House of Assembly is fully aligned with the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy in Nigeria.

Speaking during the June 2025 edition of the monthly media engagement series, "Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,ÔÇØ held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Umuahia, the Governor emphasized that the legislation was crafted to reflect the spirit and intent of the apex court's ruling.

Governor Otti clarified that contrary to misinformation making the rounds, the law was not designed to usurp or dilute local government powers, but rather to strengthen grassroots governance as envisaged by the Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court had an intention, and we made sure our law reflects that intention,ÔÇØ Governor Otti stated. "What we did was to ensure that the Supreme Court judgment was implemented in a manner that respects the spirit of local governance.ÔÇØ

He reiterated that the law was drafted and enacted with careful legal scrutiny, ensuring it neither conflicts with nor undermines the constitutional autonomy of the local government system in the state.

Governor Otti stressed that local governments are critical building blocks for state development, and Abia State remains committed to empowering them with the necessary tools, autonomy, and legislative backing to function effectively and transparently.

He called on stakeholders, civic leaders, and political observers to study the law objectively and understand its role in advancing democratic governance at the grassroots.