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Abia Governor Alex Otti has ruled out any Senate ambitions after his tenure, pledging to retire from politics. Speaking at a reception in Aba, he stressed the need for younger leaders and promised a review of the controversial 2011 dismissal of civil servants, promising fairness and justice in resolving the issue.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti says he has no intention of pursuing a political career beyond his time in office, pledging to retire from public service after completing his second term.

Otti made the declaration on Saturday during an event hosted by the Anambra Development Unions Association in Aba. Addressing rumors about a possible Senate bid, he dismissed them as unfounded and urged Nigerians to disregard such speculation.

"Once I finish my assignment here after eight years, I'm heading into retirement — not to Abuja," the governor firmly stated.

He stressed the need to open up political leadership to younger citizens, arguing that societal change demands new voices and fresh ideas. "We’re no longer as young as we once were. The younger generation deserves a real chance to lead," he said.

During his speech, Otti also addressed past injustices involving the 2011 dismissal of 154 state employees, many of them teachers. He revealed he has instructed the head of the service to urgently reassess the dismissals and recommend appropriate steps.


Otti noted that those under 65 years old could be considered for reappointment on a contractual basis, particularly to strengthen the state's education sector, which faces a teacher shortage.


Condemning the original layoffs as discriminatory and unlawful—reportedly based on the workers’ state of origin—the governor promised fair compensation for those ineligible for reinstatement.


He reaffirmed his administration’s focus on justice, inclusion, and repairing what he called “errors” left by previous governments.