Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he has his own candidate for the 2027 presidential election, distancing himself from reports that he supports President Bola Tinubu. According to Daily Post Nigeria, the governor made the clarification on Friday, September 25, 2026, amid speculation about where his political loyalty lies.
Daily Post Nigeria reports that Otti's statement was a direct response to claims that he had thrown his weight behind Tinubu despite belonging to a different party. The governor did not name the candidate he intends to support.
The clarification follows criticism from the New Democratic Party, which argued that Otti should be campaigning for Peter Obi rather than backing Tinubu, according to Daily Post Nigeria. Vanguard News also examined the competing portrayals of the governor in a report on his relationships with Obi and Tinubu.
Separately, Independent Newspaper Nigeria reported that Otti gave assurances that political parties would receive adequate security during campaigns in Abia State, and that politicians would be free to use state facilities.
Otti's remarks add to the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 race, where party affiliations and personal alliances have yet to settle into clear alignments. Whether the governor will publicly name his preferred candidate, and how that choice lands with his party and with Obi's supporters, is the next thing to watch.
