Abia State Governor Alex Otti said in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, September 25, 2026, that he is not in a position to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, citing his responsibilities as a governor and member of the National Economic Council.
Otti’s latest comments came amid renewed political discussion over his position as a Labour Party governor whose administration works with the Tinubu-led Federal Government.
Also read: Obi: Anyone who rigged election under my government will go to jail
The governor said openly opposing the President while participating in government could create unnecessary tension within the system.
“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 position is consistent with remarks Otti made earlier in 2026, when he said he had no reason to oppose Tinubu because he was not contesting the presidency and was himself seeking a second term as governor.
However, Otti drew a distinction between acknowledging Tinubu’s presidential bid and having a Labour Party candidate for the 2027 election.
During the Arise interview, when the presenter suggested that Tinubu was the presidential candidate Otti had previously referred to, the governor rejected the interpretation.
“No, that’s not what I said,” he said.
Asked whether he was referring to a Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti replied, “Yes.”
When the question returned to whether he supported Tinubu, Otti responded: “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?”
He explained that his position was also shaped by his participation in the National Economic Council, where state governors engage with the Federal Government on economic and policy matters.
“I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that 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 National Economic Council. So, we should distinguish that,” Otti said.
“When somebody now says, ‘Oh, you are supporting or you’re not,’ I have to support him,” he added.
Otti also argued that political disagreement within government should not necessarily translate into open confrontation.
“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,” he said.
The governor said he would rather raise concerns through official government channels when he disagrees with a policy or decision.
“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.
Otti’s relationship with Tinubu has attracted political attention throughout 2026.
In July, he rejected a claim by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma that all five South-East governors had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election, stressing that Uzodimma could not speak for the entire group.
The latest comments therefore add context to Otti’s position. While he has said he would not oppose Tinubu’s candidacy, he has also maintained a distinction between his role in government and Labour Party politics.
Otti has previously spoken favourably about some of Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy.
In March, he described the decision as courageous and said he had long held the view that the subsidy was unsustainable.
In July, he again praised the President for what he described as difficult economic decisions, including subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.
The governor’s stance has also become part of a wider political conversation in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.
In September, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said Otti was backing Tinubu, although the Abia State Government stopped short of issuing an explicit confirmation at the time.
For Otti, however, the immediate emphasis remains on the distinction between governance and party politics.
His comments indicate that he sees cooperation with the Federal Government as part of his responsibilities as a state governor, even while maintaining his affiliation with the Labour Party.
Also read: Obi: Anyone who rigged election under my government will go to jail
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, Otti’s position places him among opposition-party governors whose relationship with the Tinubu administration is being closely watched, particularly as political alliances and presidential campaigns take shape.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
