The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) has ranked Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, as the best performing governor in the South-East for 2025.
The ranking was announced in the outcome of FOSAD’s 2025 South-East Governors’ Performance Poll, conducted as part of the forum’s end-of-year activities for 2025.
FOSAD said the poll was organised in line with its mandate to promote good governance, accountability and evidence-based public leadership in the South-East geopolitical zone.
According to the forum, the poll was conducted online through Google Forms and was open only to members of FOSAD, who are academic professionals and citizens of the five South-East states. A total of 830 valid responses were recorded.
At the end of the poll, Governor Otti emerged as the overall winner, with 461 votes, representing 55.5 percent of the total responses. He was followed by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who came second with 292 votes, accounting for 35.2 percent.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, placed third with 65 votes, representing 7.8 per cent. Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, received seven votes, equivalent to 0.8 per cent, while Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, came last with five votes, representing 0.6 per cent.
FOSAD stated that the poll’s outcome reflects the collective view of its members on the performance of South-East governors, based on clearly defined governance and development indicators.
These include security, peace and rule of law; economic development and job creation; infrastructure and urban development; education and human capital development; healthcare and social welfare; agriculture and food security; governance, transparency and accountability; youth and women inclusion; diaspora engagement and regional integration; as well as environment, climate and sustainability.
The forum noted that Governor Otti’s high rating was based on members’ assessment of reforms, policy direction and visible governance outcomes in Abia State during the period under review.
It stressed that the poll was not meant to disparage any governor, but to provide constructive feedback and encourage healthy competition, peer learning and continuous improvement in governance across the region.
FOSAD also stated that the 2025 poll was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, without external influence or financial inducement. Participation, it said, was entirely voluntary and reflected the independent views of its members.
In recognition of his performance, Governor Otti will be formally presented with the FOSAD Best Performing South-East Governor 2025 Award at a ceremony scheduled for January 2026.
The forum expressed confidence that the recognition would inspire governors in the region to deepen reforms and focus more on people-centred development.
FOSAD further announced that the South-East Governors’ Performance Poll will now be conducted annually to track progress, strengthen accountability and promote informed civic engagement in the governance of the South-East.
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