Abia State Governor Alex Otti has clarified his stance regarding President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that his working relationship with the President does not mean he is backing him over the Labour Party’s own candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an exclusive interview aired on Arise Television on Friday, Otti explained that as a sitting governor and member of the National Economic Council (NEC), he collaborates on federal policies and is not in a position to publicly oppose the President from within government.
Otti rejected suggestions that his working arrangement with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration meant he was endorsing Tinubu’s re-election bid under the Labour Party platform.
“No, that’s not what I said,” Otti clarified when asked if Tinubu was his preferred choice for 2027, affirming instead that he supports the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
Addressing his approach to governance, the Labour Party governor noted that openly confronting the head of state while participating in federal executive councils could lead to administrative “implosion”.
“When you say opposition, and you are part of a government, then what you are driving towards is implosion,” Otti said, adding that he prefers addressing policy disagreements directly during internal government meetings.
The governor also pointed out that several federal policies, such as the removal of the petrol subsidy, align with his economic principles.
He maintained that while President Tinubu has every right to seek re-election in 2027, his primary political allegiance remains with the Labour Party.
