Uzodimma cannot speak for all South-East governors on 2027 backing for Tinubu, says Otti

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has publicly refuted claims by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma that all five South-East governors have agreed to back President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Otti clarified that while Uzodimma, who chairs the South-East Governors' Forum, is entitled to his personal opinion, he does not represent the collective decision of all governors in the region.

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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.

"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 stated during his monthly media chat on Thursday. He stressed that the ultimate choice for the presidency in 2027 rests with Nigerians through the ballot box.

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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.

Otti, a member of the Labour Party, also highlighted that his party intends to field its own presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the upcoming election. He affirmed his support for President Tinubu's constitutional right to seek a second term, alongside any other qualified aspirants, emphasizing that democracy allows for such contests.

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Am I against the President running for a second term? Absolutely no. He has a right to run for a second term, and others who also want to run have a right to run.

Furthermore, Governor Otti reaffirmed his backing for certain federal economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy. He has consistently argued against subsidizing consumption, viewing it as a practice that fosters corruption and is not a sustainable economic approach. Uzodimma had previously cited federal infrastructure projects and the establishment of the South East Development Commission as reasons for the purported support for Tinubu's re-election.

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At the end of the day, it’s the ballot box… that will determine what happens.