A  governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State in 2015, Alex Otti has declared his intention to contest for the exalted seat again in 2019.

Declaring his interest at the Ngwa High School, Aba over the weekend, Otti debunked the rumour that APGA had two factions, saying it was sponsored by the enemies of Abia State and the party.

The former banker and renowned financial expert further appealed to the people of the state to rise to the challenge and defend their vote in 2019 in order to restore the state to the path of growth and socio-economic development.

Otti said: “I have decided to contest again for the governor of the state because the Pharoahs of Abia must be forced to let Abians go free.”

Narrating how the mandate given to him in 2015 was allegedly stolen, Otti warned that such daylight robbery would never happen again, appealing to the electorate, especially the youths, to rise to the challenge and defend their votes in 2019.

“You all should rise to defend your vote. This is a collective responsibility. When you do your bit and we do our own bit, it will be impossible for anyone to rig the election.” Otti added.

He said that the outcome of the governorship election in Ekiti State has shown that it had become difficult for anybody to rig elections in Nigeria again as the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has improved on the electoral process.

He decried the inability of the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu and his administration to address the infrastructure deficit in the state and ensure regular payment of pensions and salaries.

In his speech, the former National Chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh said that it was obvious that Abia people gave their mandate to Otti and APGA in 2015 which he alleged was stolen.

He noted that APGA was strategic for the Igbo people as according to him, it remains the only party that would bring enduring development to the south-east region.