Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has explained his position on President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, saying his role as a governor and member of the National Economic Council requires him to support the President.
Otti spoke in an interview with Arise Television on Friday while responding to questions about whether his support for Tinubu amounted to an arrangement between him, the Labour Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The governor said he was not in a position to oppose Tinubu’s candidacy because he is part of the government, arguing that openly opposing the President could create an “implosion.”
“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.
However, Otti distinguished his support for Tinubu as President from his position on the 2027 presidential election, noting that the Labour Party has its own presidential candidate whom he supports.
When the interviewer suggested that Tinubu was the presidential candidate Otti had referred to, the governor rejected the suggestion.
“No, that’s not what I said,” he said, confirming that he was referring to the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
Otti explained that, as a member of the National Economic Council, he participates in decisions and policies of the Federal Government and therefore cannot publicly oppose the President while working within the same administration.
He said disagreements with Tinubu or his policies would be raised during government meetings rather than through public confrontation.
Otti also said some of Tinubu’s policies align with his views, citing the removal of the fuel subsidy as an example. He described the subsidy as unsustainable and said the President was entitled to seek re-election in 2027.
