Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged church leaders to encourage their members to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Otti gave the charge on Sunday at the Assemblies of God Church, 123 Tenant Road, Aba, during the 28th anniversary of the church’s Zam Jehovah Nights programme themed “Breaking Barriers.”
The governor said the next general election was approaching, stressing that Christians should not shy away from their civic responsibilities, noting that voting remained the surest way to sustain development in the state.
According to him, active participation in the electoral process would ensure continuity of the developmental projects currently ongoing in Abia.
“You know, I’m a Levite, I’m a son of a pastor. In the past, my father used to preach that politics should be avoided.
“But they forgot that part of the Bible that says power belongs to God. If believers shy away from taking responsibility, those who do not believe will take the centre stage.
“So, if you have not registered, please ensure you register. The opportunity to do that is now. Pastor, please help me; let our people register,” he added.
The governor also noted that many residents in Aba were yet to register for their voter cards, while some registered voters often failed to participate in elections.
“The only way to ensure that the good things happening in our state continue is for all of you to speak with your votes,” he said.
Otti congratulated the church on the 28th anniversary of its Zam Jehovah Nights programme and thanked members for their continued support for his administration.
He also expressed appreciation for the sculptured white horse presented to him by the church.
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Pastor of the church, Rev. Dr Ogboso Ejindu, said the Zam Jehovah Nights programme had been held annually for 28 years, adding that the 30-day programme attracts participants from within and outside Nigeria.
Ejindu described Otti as a progressive and hardworking leader committed to transforming the state.
He noted that the governor had begun to remove long-standing barriers that hindered Abia’s development.
“Our theme this year is ‘Breaking Barriers.’ God sent us a governor who is large-hearted, people-oriented and hardworking, and he has started breaking barriers that lasted for decades,” he said.
The cleric also responded to critics who accused the governor of focusing mainly on repainting infrastructure across the state.
“Critics said you came in and all you could do was paint and repaint. My governor, there are more than 7,000 people gathered here, and we are telling you that we like the painting,” Ejindu said.
The pastor later presented the sculptured white horse to the governor, describing it as a symbol of strength, glory, consistency and excellence.
The event also featured prayers for the governor, his administration and the state.
Among those who accompanied Otti to the event were the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa; the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokeocha; the Mayor of Aba North Local Government Area, Timothy Iheke; and the Director-General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Uche Ukeje, among other government officials.
The INEC periodically conducts Continuous Voter Registration to enable eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 or those who have not previously registered to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.
The exercise also allows registered voters to update or transfer their registration details ahead of future elections.
Civic groups, religious organisations and community leaders are often encouraged to mobilise citizens to participate in the process, thereby strengthening democratic participation and ensuring broader voter turnout during elections.
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