Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma cannot speak for all South-East governors regarding support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, insisting that such a decision rests with the electorate.
Otti made the remarks during his monthly media chat in Umuahia while responding to claims by Uzodimma, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, that the five governors of the region had resolved to back Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Uzodimma had earlier declared that the South-East governors reviewed all options and decided to work with President Tinubu, citing federal projects such as the South East Development Commission, the Eastern Rail Corridor, and road infrastructure in the region.
Reacting, Otti said: “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.”
The Abia governor emphasised that while Uzodimma is entitled to express his personal opinion, no single governor has the mandate to commit the entire South-East or its governors to any political position ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Otti, a member of the Labour Party, further clarified that his party would field its own presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 polls. He noted that cooperation with the Federal Government on national policies should not be misinterpreted as a blanket political endorsement.
“Am I against the president running for a second term? Absolutely no. It’s the masses of the people that would determine,” Otti added. “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 that will determine what happens.”
The South-East governors come from different political platforms: Uzodimma (Imo), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Peter Mbah (Enugu) belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC); Otti (Abia) is in the Labour Party; while Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra) is of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Otti’s position underscores that any regional endorsement cannot be assumed without the explicit agreement of each governor and that the ultimate decision on the 2027 presidency lies with Nigerian voters.