I have to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in my capacity as governor, NEC member – Alex Otti

Abia state governor Alex Otti, on Friday, September 25, explained his position on president Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying he has to support the president in his capacity as a governor and member of the National Economic Council (NEC).

Otti clarified while speaking on whether his support for Tinubu’s re-election amounted to a comfortable arrangement between him, a Labour Party governor, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor said he was not in a position to oppose Tinubu’s candidacy, adding that doing so 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.

He, however, distinguished between supporting Tinubu’s administration and having a presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2027 election.

He said Tinubu had a right to contest the 2027 election and noted that, as a state governor and member of the NEC, he was involved in some of the decisions and policies of the federal government.

“I had also said that as a governor in this republic, 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 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 also said his approach to political disagreement was to raise concerns within government meetings rather than openly oppose the president.

“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.

He added that some of Tinubu’s policies resonated with his own views, citing the removal of the 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