Umuahia, Abia State — Nollywood actress and African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate Doris Ogala has reiterated her determination to unseat incumbent Governor Alex Otti and emerge as Abia State’s next governor in the 2027 election, describing her ambition as a “divine mandate.”
Speaking on Monday, 18 August 2026, during an appearance on the Clarity Zone podcast hosted by media personality Nedu Wazobia, Ogala expressed absolute confidence in her victory.
“I am so sure, and I know it, because I’m better than all of them. My call to come and save my people is a divine mandate. I will be the next governor of Abia State. Nothing is going to stop it,” she said.
The AAC flag bearer dared Otti to challenge her claims, criticising the performance of the current administration. She stated that she had lived in her family house in Abia for three months without electricity and accused the government of doing little for residents.
“I can tell you that this present government has done nothing. And I will tell you because I know. They’ve sold this thing to the public for the longest time. I dare the governor Alex Otti to challenge me. He didn’t build Ariaria,” Ogala declared.
She further disputed claims of widespread 24-hour electricity supply in the state and argued that key infrastructure, including parts of Ariaria International Market in Aba, predated the Otti administration.
Ogala, who hails from Bende Local Government Area, secured the AAC governorship ticket in the party’s primaries in May 2026. Following her emergence, she vowed to prioritise job creation, economic growth, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, transparency and the overall welfare of Abia residents.
In a separate TikTok Live session earlier, in July 2026, the actress had insisted that Abians had “no choice” but to accept her as their next governor. “I, Doris Ogala, as your governor, you don’t have a choice. Doris will be your governor. You don’t have a choice. God has said it, so shall it be. It is very simple. Why don’t you get that?” she said, remarks that generated widespread discussion online.
Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party, who was returned unopposed as his party’s candidate for a second term, has previously dismissed criticisms from Ogala and others as “noise” from “empty barrels” and a tiny minority, urging residents to ignore distractions and focus on ongoing reforms.
Ogala’s latest comments come amid her continued criticism of state policies, including a proposed ₦150 million campaign advertising permit, which she described as a barrier targeted at opposition candidates. The 2027 Abia governorship race is expected to feature Otti seeking re-election against Ogala and candidates from other major parties.
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