Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ruled out contesting the presidency or any other elective position after completing his tenure as governor.
Otti said he planned to retire from active politics, stressing that he had no intention of seeking a Senate seat, local government chairmanship or any other political office.
The governor made this known during an interview with Arise TV on Friday while responding to questions about the 2027 presidential ambition of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and whether he would consider seeking the presidency in the future.
Otti said he had no disagreement with Obi and would allow the former governor to campaign in Abia if he chose to do so.
“Oh, absolutely. Anybody that wants to campaign in my state will be allowed. Peter Obi and I are not fighting. Just like there’s nobody I’m fighting.
“So if he wants to campaign in the state, he will be allowed to campaign. If any other person, even Atiku, if he wants to campaign, he will be allowed to campaign. So that is what democracy is about,” he said.
Asked if he would consider running for president in the future, Otti said he would leave politics after completing his tenure.
“I had said just a few days ago that by the time I’m done with this, I’ll retire. So I’m not going to run for any other thing, not local government chairman, not Senate, not president, no.
“I think I came to deliver a calling, and that is what I’m doing now. Once I finish it, I’ll retire. And I’m not getting any younger anymore,” he said.
Otti had also reiterated in recent remarks that he did not intend to become a political godfather or seek another elective position after leaving office, saying he wanted younger people to take over leadership.
