By Osaretin Osadebamwen
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has dismissed claims that all South-East governors have agreed to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.
The governor said Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was only expressing his personal opinion and could not speak for every governor in the region.
Otti made the clarification during his monthly media briefing on Thursday while responding to questions about Uzodimma’s recent comments on the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, every governor is entitled to express individual political views, but such opinions should not be interpreted as the collective position of the South-East Governors’ Forum.
“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 stated.
He added that Nigerians would ultimately determine who becomes president in 2027 through their votes, stressing that the ballot remains the foundation of democratic choice.
The Abia governor also reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, insisting that the party would field its own presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the next general election.
He said it was only natural for members of the Labour Party to support candidates produced by their political party.
“My party is Labour Party, and Labour Party has its own presidential and vice-presidential candidate. Since we have candidates, we support them,” he said.
Despite rejecting the suggestion of a regional endorsement, Otti maintained that President Bola Tinubu has the constitutional right to seek another term in office.
He stressed that every qualified Nigerian has the freedom to contest elections in a democratic system without discrimination.
According to Otti, democracy is strengthened when voters are allowed to freely decide who should govern them.
He said the outcome of the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be determined by Nigerians at the ballot box.
Beyond politics, Otti reiterated his support for some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy.
He maintained that he had consistently opposed fuel subsidy long before assuming office as governor because subsidising consumption encourages corruption and economic inefficiency.
Hope Uzodimma had recently stated that the five South-East governors resolved to support President Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing ongoing Federal Government infrastructure projects across the region.
Among the projects listed by Uzodimma were road construction, railway development and the establishment of the South East Development Commission.
The South-East governors represent different political parties, with Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru belonging to the APC, Peter Mbah to the PDP, Alex Otti to the Labour Party and Chukwuma Soludo to APGA.
