Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has described the recent endorsement of the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second tenure as a personal opinion that should not be interpreted as the collective resolve of the governors and people of the South East geopolitical zone.
Uzodinma had, while addressing members of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers at the New Exco Chambers of the Government House, Owerri, recently said the South East governors were convinced that Tinubu had done more for the region than past administrations. Hence governors of the five South East states had resolved to support and work towards his re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
Reacting, Gov Otti, who distanced himself from the statement, insisted that no governor has the authority to speak on behalf of the entire region.
Uzodinma claimed that the decision was based on what he described as the Tinubu administration’s verifiable achievements in the South-East, which he said contrasted with what previous administrations had delivered to the region.
He also accused some politicians of using the South-East to fuel anti-government sentiment through propaganda.
“According to Uzodinma, the attempt by certain politicians to use the South East as a stage for anti-government sentiment is most despicable. We need to match propaganda with facts,” said Uzodimma, who also serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
Apparently faulting Uzodinma’s comment, Otti stressed that every governor is entitled to express a personal political opinion but should not present it as the collective stand of others.
“As a governor and as an individual you can’t speak for everybody. The Governor of Imo State said something about re-electing the President, but I’m not sure it is right to say that. As a governor and as an individual, he can’t speak for every governor.”
Otti maintained that decisions on the 2027 presidential election would be made by Nigerians at the appropriate time and cautioned against premature political declarations.
“I’m sure there is an appropriate time when people will make their decision,” he said.
The governor also noted that governance should remain the priority, adding that there are still important national issues requiring attention before the country shifts its focus to electoral politics.
“I think we still have issues…” he said.
While distancing himself from Uzodimma’s endorsement, Otti clarified that his position should not be misconstrued as blanket opposition to the Tinubu administration.
He acknowledged that the Federal Government had introduced a number of policies he supports, explaining that his backing for such policies predates his emergence as governor.
“But then, let’s also say something here. This is a government, and a government sees all the work from the national level to the sub-national level and even to the corporate level,” Otti added.
“Like I said the other day, there are a lot of policies that I have supported, even as a private citizen before I became the governor of the state.”
His comments come amid growing political discussions over the 2027 general elections following Uzodimma’s public endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term”.
