By - Alex Otti says his political career ends the day his governorship does, ruling out the presidency, the Senate and even a council chairmanship
- He denies any rift with Peter Obi over 2027 and says he’d welcome Obi, or even Atiku, to campaign freely in Abia
- Otti frames his tenure as a personal mission he intends to finish, then leave behind for good
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has put an end to speculation about his political future beyond 2027, telling Arise TV on Friday that he has no plans to seek any office once his current term as governor expires.
Speaking during a segment focused on former Anambra Governor Peter Obi’s presidential aspirations, Otti was asked point blank whether he might someday throw his own hat into the presidential ring. His answer left little room for interpretation. He does not intend to run for president, contest a Senate seat, or even pursue a local government chairmanship once his tenure winds down.
The governor was quick to shoot down any notion of bad blood between himself and Obi. Asked how he felt about the possibility of Obi campaigning within Abia State, Otti said there was no conflict between them and that Obi would face no resistance if he chose to canvass for votes there. He extended the same courtesy to Atiku Abubakar, saying any political figure wishing to campaign in the state, regardless of party, would be free to do so, adding that this openness was simply how democracy ought to work.
Pressed again on whether a future presidential run might tempt him, Otti pointed back to comments he says he made only days earlier. His position hasn’t shifted. Once his time as governor is up, he plans to walk away from elective politics altogether rather than angle for another post.
He described his governorship less as a career move and more as something closer to a personal assignment, one he intends to see through fully before stepping back. Age factored into his reasoning too. He noted, almost in passing, that he wasn’t getting any younger, and that retirement felt like the natural next chapter once the job is done.
Otti’s comments arrive at a moment when speculation over the 2027 field is heating up, with names like Obi and Atiku already generating national buzz over their next moves. By taking himself out of the running this early, the governor appears content to let his political ambitions end at Abia’s borders.
