By: Odeh Favour Adiya
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself from claims made by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, that all five South-East governors have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, declaring that Uzodinma cannot speak for every governor in the geopolitical zone.
Speaking on Thursday during his monthly media chat in Umuahia, Otti addressed questions regarding Uzodinma’s recent assertion that the region’s leaders had agreed to back the President for a second term.
While acknowledging Uzodinma’s right to express his personal views, the Abia governor emphasized that the ultimate choice of who leads the country rests squarely with Nigerian voters at the polls.
“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. I’m sure that at the appropriate time, people will take their decision,” Otti stated.
Clarifying his political alignment, Otti stressed that as a member of the Labour Party, he remains committed to supporting his party’s candidates in the upcoming general election.
“My party is Labour Party. And Labour Party has its own presidential and vice-presidential candidate. To the extent that we have candidates, we support them,” he noted.
The governor, however, made it clear that he bears no personal opposition to President Tinubu seeking re-election, pointing out that the President is constitutionally permitted to contest.
“Am I against the President running for a second term? Absolutely no. He has a right to run for a second term, and others who also want to run have a right to run,” he said.
He further observed that democratic principles allow any qualified aspirant to seek elective office, leaving the final outcome in the hands of the electorate.
“At the end of the day, it’s the ballot box… that will determine what happens,” he added.
Touching on national economic issues, Governor Otti reiterated his backing for certain Federal Government economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, noting that he had opposed subsidising consumption long before assuming office.
Explaining that fuel subsidy breeds corruption, the governor maintained that “subsidising consumption is not the way to go.”
The controversy stems from statements made by Uzodinma, who serves as the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum. Uzodinma had claimed that the five governors in the region resolved to support Tinubu’s 2027 bid due to ongoing federal infrastructure projects, such as roads, rail development, and the establishment of the South East Development Commission.
However, the political landscape of the South-East remains diverse. While Uzodinma and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo belongs to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Otti represents the Labour Party (LP).
