Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has clarified that he is not opposed to President Bola Tinubu seeking a second term in office, stressing that every qualified Nigerian has the constitutional right to contest elections, while insisting that the final decision belongs to the electorate.
Speaking during a media parley, Otti reacted to claims by the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, that all five South-East governors had agreed to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The Labour Party governor said every political leader is entitled to express personal opinions, but maintained that no individual could speak on behalf of everyone.
“I am not sure I heard that, but if Governor Hope Uzodimma said so, it is his right as a governor and as an individual. He cannot speak for everybody. I think it is still early in the day to discuss that,” Otti said.
He emphasised that President Tinubu has every constitutional right to seek another term in office, just like any other eligible Nigerian.
“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,” he stated.
According to Otti, democracy gives citizens the power to decide who leads the country.
“At the end of the day, it is the ballot box that will determine what happens,”
The governor also reiterated his support for some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the policy as unsustainable.
“Subsidising consumption is not the way to go,” Otti said, adding that he had opposed fuel subsidy long before becoming governor.
Abia’s Development Progress
Beyond politics, Otti highlighted what he described as major achievements recorded by his administration.
He disclosed that Abia State has risen from 36th to 3rd position in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, ranking behind only Enugu and Jigawa.
“From number 36, we moved to number 10, and today we are ranked number three in the country. These independent reports show that our reforms are yielding results,” he said.
The governor also revealed that Abia currently leads Nigeria in maternal and infant healthcare, with 144 Primary Healthcare Centres now fully operational and more health facilities nearing completion.
He announced the arrival of 20 additional electric buses to expand the state’s mass transit system, while revealing that nearly 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy have been issued under ongoing land reforms.
Otti further said work is progressing on smart schools, modern markets, road projects, housing schemes and digital land administration, while promising to sustain the reforms aimed at transforming the state.
