Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has rolled out a grassroots engagement initiative aimed at evaluating how government policies and programmes are impacting communities across the state.

The exercise began on Saturday at Agburuke Community Primary School in Nsulu, located in Isialangwa North Local Government Area.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, the governor described the initiative as a deliberate effort to close the gap between government and the people at the grassroots level.

He explained that the engagement would allow the administration to gather direct and reliable feedback from residents, rather than depending on second-hand reports.

“We want to see things for ourselves, hear directly from the people, and ensure that no community is left behind in our development agenda,” he said.

Otti expressed satisfaction with the feedback received during the visit, noting that residents’ responses reflected the true situation on the ground.

“It is encouraging to hear directly from the people. Their testimonies are sincere and reflect the reality on ground,” he added, pointing out that community members acknowledged ongoing projects and confirmed that governance is reaching them.

The governor also highlighted ongoing infrastructure efforts in the area, particularly road construction projects, assuring residents that all projects initiated by his administration would be completed within a reasonable timeframe.

He used the opportunity to urge residents to participate in the upcoming voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing the importance of civic involvement. He noted that the registration window would run from May 4 to August.

“Your PVC is your voice. It is important that citizens are properly equipped to exercise their voting rights,” he said.

Community leaders in Agburuke Nsulu, including the President General of the Agburuke Nsulu Development Association, Dr. Sir Jesse Odu, Hon. Oji Ikechukwu, and Mrs. Ngozi Israel, expressed strong support for the governor and his administration.

They also backed his potential second-term bid, citing visible development and tangible improvements in their community.

“The projects are visible, the impact is real, and for us, there is no going back. We will support Governor Otti and ensure that he returns for a second term in 2027,” they said.

The leaders added that many residents have aligned with the governor’s vision, with several joining the Labour Party as a show of support.

They commended the governor’s visit, describing it as a sign of responsive and people-focused leadership.

“This visit shows that the government is attentive to the needs of the people and genuinely values their concerns. We commend this level of engagement and pledge our continued support, including active participation in civic activities such as PVC registration and NIN enrolment,” they said.