The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Kelechi Anosike, has said the state is not experiencing development that reflects its current revenue inflow, insisting that residents deserve far more than what is presently on the ground.

Anosike made the remarks on Friday during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, where he outlined his vision for what he described as a people-centred administration focused on welfare, economic growth, and balanced development across key sectors.

He is expected to challenge the incumbent Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, in the 2027 governorship election. Otti, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, under the Labour Party, is also widely expected to seek re-election.

Responding to questions about the current administration’s performance, Anosike said various assessments by organisations had placed the governor’s performance above average mainly in road infrastructure, while rating other sectors lower.

According to him, Abia receives substantial revenue that should translate into broader and more impactful development across all areas.

“He has done relatively well in the road sector, and it would not be fair to compare him with past governments, given the windfall and massive revenue states now receive,” he said.

He argued that the current financial inflow into the state should have delivered more widespread results across sectors such as health and education.

“So, even if he was not Otti and another person was in charge now, the person would also have done relatively better. He just has more money in his hands. But we are saying people ought to have done more. Abia deserves more,” he said.

Anosike also raised concerns about the state of education projects, citing alleged issues surrounding the “smart schools” initiative valued at about ₦84 billion, claiming that the projects had not been fully accounted for.

“There is a need for holistic development. What is he doing in health? Zero. What is happening in education? Zero. We are aware of the scandal surrounding the smart schools project worth about N84bn. They are still looking for these smart schools; not even one has been completed,” he added.

He further stated that, if elected, his administration would introduce a minimum wage of ₦90,000 for workers in the state, with periodic reviews to reflect economic realities.

Anosike stressed that his government would prioritise citizens’ welfare over infrastructure alone, saying his vision was to build a government that focuses on people rather than problems.

“What we are bringing is different. We will not be a government that prioritises structures over people. We say the next government in Abia will prioritise people, not problems,” he said.