Alex Otti Explains Support for Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified his stance on President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, saying he supports the President in his capacity as a state governor and member of the National Economic Council.

Otti made the remarks in an exclusive interview on Arise Television on Friday when asked whether his support for Tinubu amounted to a “comfortable arrangement” between him, a Labour Party governor, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He stated that he is not in a position to oppose Tinubu’s candidacy, warning that open opposition while being part of the government could lead to “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.

The governor, however, distinguished between supporting Tinubu’s administration and the Labour Party fielding its own presidential candidate in 2027.

When asked if he was supporting Tinubu for re-election, Otti noted that he had previously said he had a presidential candidate for the Labour Party.

He rejected the interviewer’s suggestion that Tinubu was that candidate, confirming he was referring to a Labour Party aspirant.Pressed further on whether he supports Tinubu, Otti replied: “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?”

He explained that Tinubu has the right to contest the 2027 election and that, as a governor and NEC member, he is involved in some federal government decisions and policies.

“I had also said that as a governor in this republic… I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of the 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 added that his approach to disagreements is to raise concerns within government meetings rather than publicly oppose the President.

“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 stated.

He also noted that some of Tinubu’s policies align with his own thinking, citing the removal of the fuel subsidy as an example of a measure he considers necessary because it was unsustainable.

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