Otti rejects Uzodimma’s claim, says no Governor can Speak for entire South-East on Tinubu’s re-election

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself from claims by his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, that all five South-East governors have agreed to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.

Otti spoke on Thursday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, saying Uzodimma was entitled to his personal opinion but could not speak on behalf of every governor in the region.

His reaction followed remarks by Uzodimma on Wednesday during a meeting with the Imo State Elders Council and traditional rulers in Owerri, where the Imo governor said the South-East had resolved to back Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

According to Uzodimma, President Tinubu has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to the development of the South-East through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also claimed that the region’s governors had reviewed available options and agreed to support the President in the interest of national development.

Responding to the comments, Otti said no single governor had the authority to make such a declaration on behalf of the entire South-East.

“You said the governor of Imo State said something about re-electing the president. I am not sure I have heard that. But if he said that, it is his right to say it as a governor and as an individual. But he can’t speak for everybody,” Otti said.

He added that it was still too early for such political decisions, noting that Nigerians would make their choice at the appropriate time.

“I am sure that at the appropriate time, people would take their decision. I think it is still early days,” he stated.

The Abia governor, however, reiterated his support for some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy, stressing that his position on the policy predates his emergence as governor.

Otti also affirmed that President Tinubu has the constitutional right to seek re-election if he chooses.

“Am I against the president running for a second term? Absolutely no. It’s the masses of the people that would determine.

“He has the right to run for a second term. And others who also want to run have a right to run. At the end of the day, it’s the ballot box, you and I, that will determine what happens,” he said.

The Labour Party governor further stated that while his party would naturally support its own presidential candidate in the 2027 election, it would not oppose the constitutional rights of other aspirants to contest.

“My party is the Labour Party and it has its own presidential and vice-presidential candidate. To the extent that we have candidates, we will support them. But that doesn’t mean we would go and pick quarrel with everybody,” Otti added.

Otti has consistently expressed support for some of President Tinubu’s economic policies, recently describing the administration’s reforms as “courageous.”

Of the five South-East governors, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi and Peter Mbah of Enugu are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Otti belongs to the Labour Party (LP). Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

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