You Can’t Speak for Everyone in South-East’ — Otti Counters Uzodimma on Tinubu Re-election Claim

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has rejected claims by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, that all South-East governors have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Speaking during his July media briefing in Umuahia on Thursday, Otti said Uzodimma was entitled to express his personal opinion but lacked the authority to speak on behalf of every governor in the region.

“You said the governor of Imo State said something about re-electing the president. I am not sure I have heard that. But 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 said.

He added that discussions about the 2027 presidential election were premature, noting that Nigerians would decide the outcome when the time comes.

“I’m sure that at the appropriate time, people would take their decision. I think it’s still early days,” he stated.

Otti’s remarks came a day after Uzodimma told members of the Imo State Elders Council and traditional rulers in Owerri that the South-East had chosen to align with Tinubu because of what he described as the President’s commitment to the region under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Uzodimma, the five governors of the South-East had reviewed their options and agreed to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Reacting further, Otti said Tinubu, like every eligible Nigerian, has the constitutional right to seek re-election but stressed that only voters could determine who occupies the presidency after the next general election.

“Am I against the president running for a second term? Absolutely no. It’s the masses of the people that would determine,” he said.

The Labour Party governor also reaffirmed that his party would support its own presidential candidate in 2027 while respecting the rights of other political parties to field candidates.

“My party is Labour Party and it has its own presidential and vice-presidential candidate. To the extent that we have candidates, we will support them. But that doesn’t mean we would go and pick quarrel with everybody,” Otti added.

Otti has consistently praised some of Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy, describing them on several occasions as courageous policy decisions despite belonging to the opposition Labour Party.