Otti Rules Out Presidency, Says He’ll Quit Politics After Governorship

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has ruled out contesting for Nigeria’s presidency or seeking any other elective position after completing his tenure as governor, saying he intends to retire from active politics.

Otti stated this during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, September 25, 2026, while responding to questions about his political future and the presidential ambition of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. He said his current assignment in Abia was a “calling” which he intends to complete before leaving elective politics.

The governor was specifically asked whether he could consider contesting for president in the future. He rejected the possibility, saying he would not seek the presidency, a Senate seat, local government chairmanship or any other elective position after his governorship.

Otti had made a similar declaration a week earlier in Umuahia, where he said he wanted younger Nigerians to have opportunities to assume leadership positions. He also rejected the idea of becoming a political godfather after leaving office, saying Abia voters should ultimately determine who succeeds him.

The governor also addressed his relationship with Obi, insisting there was no dispute between them. He said the former Anambra governor would be free to campaign in Abia if he contests the 2027 presidential election, adding that other candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, would receive the same opportunity to campaign in the state.

Otti said allowing candidates from different political parties to campaign freely was part of democracy and maintained that political differences should not be interpreted as personal hostility.

His remarks come amid discussions about his position ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In the same television interview, Otti said that as a governor and member of the National Economic Council, he works with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and supports some federal policies, while separately referring to the Labour Party’s presidential political arrangements.

Otti explained that political opposition should not prevent governors from working with the Federal Government, saying disagreements over government policies could be raised through established meetings and institutions rather than automatically becoming public confrontations.

The Abia governor has repeatedly sought to dismiss speculation about a possible presidential ambition. In December 2025, he similarly said he had no intention of contesting for president, vice president or senator after completing his governorship assignment.

Otti, who was elected governor on the Labour Party platform in 2023, has indicated that he expects to complete a second term in 2031 if re-elected. His latest declaration means that, based on his stated position, he plans to leave elective politics at the end of his governorship rather than seek another political office.

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