You Can’t Speak For South-East— Gov. Otti Rejects Uzodimma’s Endorsement Of Tinubu’s Re-election

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has rejected claims that South-East governors have collectively endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, declaring that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, lacked the mandate to speak on behalf of the region.

Otti said Uzodimma's recent endorsement of Tinubu's re-election bid for the 2027 presidential election reflected only his personal opinion and should not be interpreted as the position of either the South-East Governors' Forum or the people of the region.

The Abia governor was reacting to Uzodimma's statement that governors of the five South-East states had resolved to work for Tinubu's re-election, citing what he described as the President's "verifiable achievements" in the region.

Uzodimma, who chairs the South-East Governors' Forum, made the declaration during a meeting with members of the Imo State Elders Council and the Imo State Traditional Rulers Council at the New EXCO Chambers of the Government House in Owerri.

He argued that the Tinubu administration had delivered more development projects to the South-East than previous governments and accused some politicians of using the region to promote anti-government propaganda.

“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,''’ Uzodimma said.

However, Otti dismissed the suggestion that any governor could commit the entire region to a political position ahead of the 2027 elections.

“As a governor and as an individual, you can't speak for everybody,''’ Otti said.

Referring specifically to Uzodimma's endorsement, he added: "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."

The Abia governor stressed that decisions on who becomes Nigeria's next president should be left to Nigerians at the appropriate time rather than being predetermined through early political endorsements.

"I'm sure there is an appropriate time when people will take their decision," he said.

Otti also cautioned against allowing political campaigns to overshadow governance, noting that the country still faces pressing national challenges that deserve the attention of elected leaders.

Despite distancing himself from Uzodimma's remarks, Otti clarified that he was not opposed to the Tinubu administration, saying he had consistently supported several Federal Government policies even before assuming office 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," he said.

‘‘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.’''