Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has clarified that the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors in the state’s 17 local government areas will run until 2028.
The governor made the clarification on Thursday during a media chat with residents of the state, amid speculation that the tenure of the elected local government executives would expire in November 2026.
Otti explained that the previous law providing for a two-year tenure for elected local government officials had been amended by the Abia State House of Assembly before the November 2, 2024, local government elections.
According to the governor, the amended legislation extended the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors to four years.
He stressed that the amendment was made before the officials were elected and, therefore, should govern their tenure.
“Before the election, we went to the House of Assembly to amend that law and the House of Assembly gave the local government mayors and their councillors four years and that was even before the election,” Otti said.
The clarification effectively puts to rest speculation that the tenure of the current local government officials would come to an end in November 2026.
The governor’s position means that the chairmen and councillors elected in the November 2024 local government elections are expected to remain in office until 2028, subject to the provisions of the amended law.
Otti also addressed the implementation of the Abia State anti-open grazing law, following renewed calls for the legislation to be enforced across the state.
The governor disclosed that the legislation had been forwarded to him for review, adding that he would soon announce the modalities for its implementation.
He indicated that the government would establish the necessary framework for enforcing the law while taking into consideration the realities surrounding livestock farming and security across the state.
The anti-open grazing legislation is expected to form part of the state’s broader efforts to regulate livestock movement and address conflicts associated with open grazing.
Meanwhile, Otti expressed concern over what he described as the increasing incidence of serious health conditions among young Nigerians.
The governor specifically mentioned cancer, kidney failure, brain tumours and stroke, urging residents to take preventive healthcare more seriously.
He advised Abia residents to pay greater attention to their diet and be more conscious of what they consume.
According to him, adopting healthier lifestyles and making better choices about food and other consumables could help reduce the risk of certain health problems.
The governor’s remarks touched on three issues of growing public interest in the state: the tenure of elected local government officials, enforcement of the anti-open grazing law and the need for stronger preventive healthcare.
His clarification on the local government tenure is particularly significant as it removes uncertainty surrounding the next local government transition in Abia and provides greater clarity for the elected officials and residents of the state’s 17 local government areas.
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