Abia governor Alex Otti says his recent visit to detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu was about calming tensions not chasing political mileage. 

Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia while receiving the Abia Diaspora Commission and medical teams, Otti told critics the trip was meant to open lines of dialogue and promote peace across the South-East. He said disagreement is part of democracy but insisted intent matters. 

Responding to a viral clip that accused him of a publicity stunt, the governor repeated that his move was guided by peacebuilding. He also dismissed speculation about future political ambitions, saying he will retire from public office after his term.

The visit to the Sokoto Correctional Centre, captured in footage shared online, showed heavy security around the facility and triggered heated debate across social media and news outlets.

The backdrop to Otti’s trip is the high-profile conviction of Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism-related charges. A federal court in Abuja found him guilty and handed down a life sentence part of a ruling that has polarised opinion across the country.

Hours after the judgment, Kanu was moved from DSS custody in Abuja to a correctional facility in Sokoto. His lawyer and allies criticised the transfer, saying it isolates him from family, his legal team and supporters and could hamper appeals. 

For Otti, the stated priority is stability. He told residents and interlocutors he will use diplomacy and dialogue to explore peaceful solutions, and urged calm while urging political actors to avoid opportunistic provocation.

Whether critics accept the governor’s explanation or not, the episode highlights the fragile mix of law, politics and public emotion in the South-East and how gestures by public officials are quickly read through partisan lenses.