Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he will not become a political godfather, stressing that voters in the state will determine his successor after he completes his second tenure in 2031.

Otti made the remarks on Thursday at the Labour Party state secretariat in Umuahia, where he formally received the 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Dr Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Chukwunenye, into the party.

The governor said he would not impose a successor, adding that he would support whoever is collectively considered the best candidate for the job.

“What I can assure you is that by the time I am done, the person that will succeed me will be better than me. I don’t want to be a godfather,” Otti said.

He added that he does not believe in political godfatherism and would not allow himself to be pressured into making political decisions against his convictions.

Otti also ruled out seeking another elective office after his tenure, saying he was not interested in contesting for the Senate.

“I don’t even want to go to Senate. I am not interested. Once I finish this one, I will retire,” he said, explaining that he wants younger people to take over leadership.

The governor said young people between the ages of 16 and 25 were being prepared to assume greater responsibilities in the future, stressing the need to end what he described as the “sit-tight syndrome.”

On criticisms of his administration, Otti maintained that his government had significantly improved infrastructure in Aba and Umuahia and was extending development to other parts of the state.

He said the administration would continue working until infrastructure improvements reached communities across Abia.

Otti also described Johnson-Chukwunenye’s decision to contest the 2023 governorship election as courageous, particularly as a woman seeking elective office.