Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he would not oppose Bola Ahmed Tinubu if he decides to seek the All Progressives Congress ticket for re-election in 2027.
Otti made the declaration during his monthly media chat for March held at the Government House in Umuahia on Friday night, stating that he had no basis to challenge the president’s candidacy since he is focused on securing a second term as governor.
“I am not in a position to oppose President Tinubu’s candidacy. I have no basis to challenge his re-election, as I am not contesting for the presidency but seeking a second term as governor of Abia State,” he said.
The governor also directed political appointees interested in contesting elective offices in 2027 to remain in office for now, noting that they would step down at the appropriate time in line with existing rules.
On party matters, Otti dismissed claims of a crisis within the Labour Party Nigeria in Abia, insisting that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had resolved earlier disputes and that the Independent National Electoral Commission had complied with the judgment. He added that the party is currently conducting membership registration ahead of its congresses and national convention.
The governor also revealed plans to convert an uncompleted Government House project initiated by a previous administration into a five-star hotel, while reconstructing the current Government House into a more befitting structure. He said discussions are ongoing with a major hotel chain to repurpose the abandoned project at Ogwurube Layout into a hospitality facility.
Addressing rising house rents in the state, Otti attributed the increase to a gap between housing demand and supply, noting that his administration is developing new housing estates to ease the pressure.
He highlighted recent achievements of his administration, including the graduation of 10,255 students during the 30th–32nd convocation ceremonies of Abia State University. He added that reconstruction of a 10,000-bed student hostel has commenced, alongside plans for an international secondary school and restoration of electricity to the institution after years of blackout, with a 15-megawatt independent power project in the pipeline.
Otti further disclosed that the state has secured a $200 million investment from Presco Plc for palm plantation development and is being considered for the second phase of a $350 million multi-state agricultural programme.
He also announced the commissioning of a $35 million beverage plant in Aba, with expansion plans valued at $75 million, as well as ongoing development at the Abia Innovation and Industrial Park in Ukwa, including a proposed modular refinery.
In the health sector, the governor said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated an MRI machine worth $1 million to the state. He added that 569 healthcare workers have been recruited out of an approved 774, while 227 primary healthcare centres are being upgraded to ensure at least one functional facility per ward.
Otti commended residents and security agencies for maintaining peace during a recent protest and confirmed that 200 hectares of land have been approved for a Nigerian Air Force base at the proposed Abia International Airport in Nsulu, being developed in partnership with the Federal Government.
On security concerns linked to herdsmen activities, the governor urged residents to remain law-abiding and avoid taking the law into their own hands, assuring that criminal acts, including destruction of farmlands, would not be tolerated.
