Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he is not against President Bola Tinubu seeking a second term in office, noting that the decision on the 2027 presidential election will be determined by Nigerians through their votes.
Otti made the clarification while reacting to comments by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, that governors in the region had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Uzodimma had linked the reported support to ongoing federal projects in the South-East, including road development and the creation of the South-East Development Commission.
Speaking during a media interaction, Otti said individual governors and politicians had the right to make their own political choices, adding that no single person could decide for everyone in the region.
He said Tinubu, like any other Nigerian who meets the constitutional requirements, has the right to seek another term, while other interested candidates also have the freedom to contest.
The Abia governor said the final decision would be made by voters during the election.
Otti also restated his support for some of the Federal Government’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, saying he had opposed the subsidy system even before becoming governor.
He argued that subsidising fuel consumption had created room for corruption and was not a lasting solution for the economy.
Meanwhile, the governor announced that Abia State had recorded improvements across several sectors, including healthcare, transportation, land administration, housing and education.
He said the state moved from 36th position to 10th and later became the third most improved state in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, following Enugu and Jigawa.
Otti said his administration’s reforms and investments in key areas contributed to the state’s improved ranking.
The governor also disclosed that Abia currently ranks first in maternal and infant health outcomes based on the first quarter 2026 national report.
He said 144 out of the state’s 200 primary healthcare centres had been upgraded and made functional, while 77 additional health facilities renovated through a World Bank programme had been completed.
He added that more health facilities would soon become operational as the government continues efforts to expand access to medical services.
On transportation, Otti announced that 20 new electric buses had arrived in the state to expand the mass transit system and serve more routes within Abia and neighbouring states.
The new routes include Umuahia-Bende-Arochukwu, Umuahia-Uturu, Umuahia-Umudike-Ikwuano, Aba-Owerri and Aba-Ukwa.
He said monitoring systems had been installed in the buses to track drivers and ensure proper use of the vehicles, adding that some staff had already faced disciplinary action after misconduct was detected.
The governor also revealed that the state government had issued 4,923 Certificates of Occupancy within three years, with nearly 1,000 completed in 2026.
He said Abia had completed a digital mapping project with UN-Habitat, which would support a modern land administration system and reduce fraudulent property transactions.
On education, Otti said two smart schools out of the planned 20 had been completed and commissioned, with work ongoing on others.
He also announced progress on the Aba Bus Terminal project and the remodelling of Ekeoma Market, where the first phase had been completed.
Addressing road construction and flooding concerns, the governor said rainfall had slowed some projects but assured residents that work was continuing.
He said the government was investing in improved drainage systems to reduce flooding and protect communities affected by heavy rains.
Otti also announced plans to begin the Pocket Layout Housing Project in Umuahia to address rising demand for accommodation in the state.
On the Akwete textile industry, the governor said the visit of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu had provided support for the sector.
He disclosed that a dedicated account had been created for the Akwete Cloth Production Hub and that funds pledged to support women involved in the industry would be released.
The governor urged residents to support local production by patronising Akwete fabrics.
He praised security agencies for maintaining peace in Abia and called on residents to continue supporting environmental sanitation efforts.
The media meeting was attended by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Mribeole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba; Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu; and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
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