2027: For me as governor, opposing Tinubu means implosion – Otti

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said opposing President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while serving as a governor and member of the National Economic Council could lead to an “implosion”, explaining why he has to support the President despite belonging to the Labour Party.

Otti stated this during an exclusive interview aired on Arise Television on Friday, following questions about 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).

He, however, distinguished between his position as a member of the National Economic Council and the Labour Party’s choice of a presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

When asked whether he was supporting Tinubu for re-election, Otti recalled that he had previously stated that he had a presidential candidate for the Labour Party.

After the interviewer identified Tinubu as the candidate, the governor rejected the suggestion.

No, that’s not what I said.

Asked whether he was referring to a Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti replied, “Yes.”

The interviewer subsequently pressed him on whether he was supporting Tinubu.

What do you expect me to say?

The Abia governor said Tinubu had the right to contest the 2027 presidential election, adding that his membership of the National Economic Council meant he was involved in decisions and policies of the Federal Government.