Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged South East governors to focus more on fixing bad roads and delivering development to the people rather than rushing into political campaigns ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Otti’s position comes amid growing debate over reports that the five South East governors have agreed to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
The Abia governor has rejected any suggestion that one governor can speak for the entire region, stressing that individual governors have the right to make their own political choices.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, had said the governors had reviewed their political options and resolved to support Tinubu’s re election.
Otti, however, maintained that Uzodimma could only speak for himself and could not commit all the governors to a political position.
The Abia governor has consistently placed road development at the centre of his administration, taking over and rehabilitating several roads that had remained in poor condition for years.
His administration has reconstructed major roads in Aba and other parts of Abia, including the Port Harcourt Road, Ohanku Road and other important routes.
The 6.7 kilometre Port Harcourt Road in Aba was reconstructed into a six lane dual carriageway after years of neglect. President Tinubu later commended the project during its commissioning.
Otti has also taken over the rehabilitation of the 25 kilometre Umuahia Ikot Ekpene Road after receiving approval from the Federal Government. The governor said the failed sections of the road had subjected commuters and transporters to years of hardship.
The governor has also secured approval to intervene in other badly damaged federal roads, including the Ohafia Arochukwu Road and the Onuimo Umuahia Road.
In June 2026, the Presidency praised Otti’s administration for its road construction and other infrastructure projects across Abia. Officials who inspected projects in the state highlighted the transformation taking place on roads that had remained in poor condition for many years.
Otti has maintained that political differences should not stop governments from working together to provide development for the people.
His approach has been to cooperate with the Federal Government on projects while maintaining his own political position.
The governor has also clarified that he is not opposed to Tinubu seeking another term in office. He said the President has the constitutional right to contest, just as other qualified Nigerians have the right to seek the presidency.
However, Otti has stressed that the final decision belongs to Nigerian voters in 2027.
His position has brought renewed attention to the condition of roads across the South East, where poor infrastructure has remained a major concern for residents, businesses and travellers.
For Otti, the priority is clear: governments should concentrate on delivering projects that directly improve the lives of their people, with good roads serving as a foundation for economic growth, trade and easier movement across the region.
