The Abia State chapter of the Labour Party has denied reports that Governor Alex Otti is backing President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
This follows remarks made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who recently claimed that all South-East governors—regardless of political party—are behind Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Speaking in Umuahia on Thursday, the Labour Party Chairman in Abia, Mazi Emmanuel Otti, dismissed the minister’s statement, saying it was based on assumption rather than any concrete information from the governor.
“Umahi didn’t say Governor Otti and other South-East governors currently support the President’s re-election. He simply speculated that they will,” the LP chairman said.
He clarified that Governor Otti has not communicated any endorsement to the party, and therefore, such talk remains unconfirmed.
“There has been no directive or indication from the governor about supporting President Tinubu for 2027. We only heard this from the minister, not from Governor Otti,” he added.
On the upcoming visit of President Tinubu to Abia State for the commissioning of the Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Mazi Otti stressed that the invitation was purely administrative.
“The President’s visit is part of his official role. Commissioning infrastructure is within his constitutional duty, and it has nothing to do with political endorsements,” he explained.
Asked whether either the governor or the President might make political statements during the event, he responded, “I won’t make assumptions. Let’s wait for the day and see what’s said.”
Senator Umahi made his original remarks at a South-East PDP zonal meeting in Enugu, where he stated that governors in the region were already backing Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, despite belonging to different political parties.
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