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Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying his position is influenced by his responsibilities as a governor and member of the National Economic Council (NEC).
Otti spoke during an interview with ARISE News, where he was asked to clarify his support for Tinubu despite being a governor elected on the platform of the Labour Party.
The governor said his relationship with Tinubu should be viewed separately from the Labour Party’s decision to field its own presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
“It works the way you have said. It’s a statement of fact. I am not in a position to oppose his candidacy,” Otti said.
He explained that as a governor and member of the NEC, he is involved in decisions and policies of the Federal Government and therefore cannot openly oppose the President while serving within the government structure.
“I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that a lot of the things that are being, in fact, I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of National Economic Council. So, we should distinguish that,” he said.
When asked directly whether he was supporting Tinubu, Otti responded: “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?”
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“I have to support him,” the governor added.
However, Otti stressed that supporting Tinubu in his capacity as governor does not mean he has abandoned the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2027.
Asked whether he had a Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti answered in the affirmative.
He also warned that openly opposing the President from within government could create what he described as an “implosion”, saying he would rather raise concerns about government policies during official meetings.
According to Otti, some of Tinubu’s policies also resonate with him, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he described as unsustainable in its previous form.
Otti’s comments come amid continued political discussions over the position of Labour Party governors and other opposition figures toward Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
