Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has clarified his position on President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, saying his support for the President in governance does not mean he has abandoned the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Otti made the clarification during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, amid questions over his political relationship with Tinubu and whether his position amounted to an understanding between him, a Labour Party governor, and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The governor said his position was influenced by his responsibilities as a state governor and member of the National Economic Council, stressing that he could not openly oppose Tinubu while participating in the Federal Government’s decision-making process.
“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, however, drew a distinction between supporting Tinubu in his capacity as President and choosing a candidate for the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
When asked whether he was backing Tinubu for another term, Otti recalled his earlier statement that he had a presidential candidate within the Labour Party.
When the interviewer suggested that Tinubu was the candidate he referred to, the governor disagreed.
“No, that’s not what I said,” he said.
Asked if he meant the Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti replied, “Yes.”
The interviewer again sought clarification on whether the governor was supporting Tinubu.
“What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?” Otti responded.
According to the governor, his involvement in the National Economic Council means he is part of discussions and decisions concerning policies implemented by the Federal Government.
“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.
“When somebody now says, ‘Oh, you are supporting or you’re not,’ I have to support him,” he said.
Otti explained that where he disagreed with any government policy, he preferred to express his concerns during official meetings rather than publicly work against the administration.
“And sometimes people don’t understand opposition. When you say opposition, and you are part of a government, then what you are driving towards is implosion.
“So if I do have a problem with anything, I’ll sit down in one of our meetings and I’ll make my point. So I’m not going to oppose his candidacy,” he added.
The governor also pointed to areas of Tinubu’s economic policy that he said were consistent with his own views, citing the removal of fuel subsidy as an example.
“Quite frankly, there are a lot of things that we have talked about now, that he has implemented, that resonate with me and my thinking.
“People don’t have to agree with me, but from where I sit, I know that for instance, the fuel subsidy was even unsustainable,” Otti said.
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