Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified his backing for President Bola Tinubu, explaining that his alignment stems from his constitutional responsibilities as a governor and member of the National Economic Council (NEC) rather than a partisan endorsement for the 2027 election.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television on Friday, Otti dismissed suggestions that his stance represented a comfortable political arrangement between his party, the Labour Party, and the ruling All Progressives Congress. He explained that raising objections privately during official forums remains his approach to governance, rather than engaging in public opposition that could disrupt 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,” Otti said during the broadcast. He added that if he had an issue with any policy, he would raise it in one of their meetings, reinforcing that he would not oppose the President’s candidacy.
Addressing policy alignment, the governor noted that several measures enacted by the current administration reflect his personal economic views, pointing specifically to the termination of the petrol subsidy regime.
“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,” Otti stated, adding that while others might disagree, he viewed the fuel subsidy as unsustainable.
Otti maintained a clear distinction between supporting the incumbent administration’s policies and endorsing a candidate for the upcoming general election. When questioned directly on whether Tinubu was his preferred choice for 2027, the governor rejected the premise, reiterating that his political support as a Labour Party member remains with a Labour Party presidential candidate.
However, when pressed on his relationship with the President, Otti emphasized that Tinubu retains the right to seek re-election in 2027 and that cooperation with the Federal Government remains essential.
“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, concluding that when asked whether he supports the President, he naturally has to support him.