Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, says his support for some policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the president’s re-election bid.
Otti, a member of the opposition Labour Party (LP), said he was not in a position to oppose Tinubu’s candidacy while working with the federal government on issues affecting Abia and other states.
Speaking in an interview released by Arise TV on Thursday, the governor said opposing Tinubu’s candidacy while cooperating with his administration would amount to working towards an “implosion”.
“I’m not in a position to oppose his (Tinubu’s) candidacy,” Otti said.
“And sometimes people don’t understand opposition. When you say you’re 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.”
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNELOtti, however, drew a distinction between his dealings with Tinubu as president and his political choice ahead of the 2027 election, saying he currently has a presidential candidate whom he is expected to support.
He said Tinubu had the constitutional right to contest the election, but that his own support for the president in his capacity as head of the federal government should not be mistaken for partisan backing.
“But 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 said.
“And people don’t have to agree with me. But from where I sit, I know that, for instance, the fuel subsidy was even unsustainable. And if you want to reintroduce it, that’s fine. But then you need to also fund it.”
The governor said his involvement in decisions taken by the federal government through the national economic council (NEC) was another reason he considered cooperation with the administration separate from partisan politics.
The council comprises the president, vice-president and state governors and considers economic and fiscal matters affecting the country.
“I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that a lot of the things that have been… In fact, I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of the national economic council. We have to distinguish that,” Otti said.
“When somebody now says, oh, you are supporting or you are not, I have to support him. No, he can’t speak for me.
“And then, you know, I had also responded to this, to say nobody can speak for me. I’m the one that will speak for myself.”
Otti’s comments also come after Hope Uzodimma, Imo governor, said the five governors in the region had resolved to support Tinubu’s re-election.
Otti had previously rejected the suggestion that Uzodimma could speak on behalf of all five governors.
In the Arise interview, Otti again made clear that Uzodimma’s position did not determine his political choice.
“Of course, I had said he has the right to run. And nobody can stop him from running,” Otti added.
“But at the moment, I have a presidential candidate and it’s expected that I will support my presidential candidate.”
The Abia governor said Nigerians would ultimately decide who to support in the 2027 presidential election, adding that his relationship with the federal government should not be interpreted as a commitment to Tinubu’s re-election.
He also said Uzodimma could not determine his political position or speak on his behalf.
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