Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Friday explained his support for President Bola Tinubu, saying his position is influenced by his responsibilities as a state governor and member of the National Economic Council.
Otti made the clarification during an interview with Arise Television while responding to questions about his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid and whether the position reflected an understanding between him, the Labour Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The governor said his role in the government made it difficult for him to openly oppose Tinubu’s candidacy. He explained that governors are involved in national policy discussions through the National Economic Council and that disagreements over government decisions are better handled within official meetings.
Otti, however, distinguished between working with and supporting the Tinubu administration and having a presidential candidate for the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 election.
When asked whether Tinubu was the presidential candidate he was supporting for the next election, Otti clarified that he was referring to the Labour Party’s own presidential candidate rather than identifying Tinubu in that capacity.
The Abia governor said Tinubu had the constitutional right to contest the 2027 presidential election and that, as a governor, he was part of several discussions and decisions connected to the Federal Government.
Otti explained that when he has concerns about any Federal Government policy, he prefers to raise them during meetings rather than engage in open confrontation with the President.
He said openly opposing the President while remaining part of the government could create unnecessary tension within the system. Instead, he said governors could present their views during government meetings and work through areas of disagreement.
The governor also pointed to some policies introduced by the Tinubu administration that he said are consistent with his own views. One of the policies he mentioned was the removal of the fuel subsidy.
According to Otti, he had previously regarded the fuel subsidy as unsustainable and therefore agreed with the decision to remove it, although he acknowledged that people could hold different opinions about the policy.
His comments come amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and public office holders taking positions on the emerging presidential contest.
Otti had earlier said he would not seek another elective position after completing his tenure as Abia governor, including the presidency or a Senate seat. He said his intention was to complete what he set out to achieve in Abia before retiring from active politics.