Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself from claims by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma that all five South-East governors had resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying Uzodimma could not speak for every governor in the region.
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma. Photo credit: File
Otti said while Uzodimma had the right to express his personal opinion, the decision on who becomes president in 2027 would ultimately rest with Nigerians through the ballot.
The governor made the remarks on Thursday during his monthly media chat, in response to a question on Uzodimma’s recent statement that the South-East governors had agreed to back Tinubu for a second term.
“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 said.
He also stressed that as a member of the Labour Party, his political party would field its own presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 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 said.
Otti, however, said he was not opposed to President Tinubu seeking a second term, noting that the president was constitutionally entitled to contest.
