Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained his support for President Bola Tinubu, saying his position is influenced by his responsibilities as a governor and member of the National Economic Council.

Otti made the clarification during an exclusive interview with Arise Television on Friday while responding to questions about his relationship with the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government despite being elected governor on the platform of the Labour Party. �

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The governor said he was not in a position to openly oppose Tinubu's candidacy while serving as part of the government, arguing that such a situation could create internal conflict.

“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.

However, Otti drew a distinction between supporting Tinubu's administration in his capacity as governor and having a preferred presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2027 election.

When asked whether Tinubu was the Labour Party presidential candidate he had previously referred to, Otti rejected the suggestion.

“No, that’s not what I said,” he said.

Asked whether he meant a candidate from the Labour Party, the governor responded, “Yes.”

Otti was subsequently asked why he would not simply state that he was not supporting Tinubu. He responded that his position was shaped by his role in government and his participation in the National Economic Council.

The governor said state governors are involved in decisions taken through the council and that he could not distance himself completely from policies and actions of the Federal Government while occupying that position.

“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,” he said.

He added that disagreements with the Federal Government were better handled through government engagements rather than by publicly opposing 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,” Otti said.

Otti also pointed to areas where policies implemented by the Tinubu administration align with positions he has previously expressed. He specifically mentioned the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he said was unsustainable.

“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,” he said.

The comments come amid growing political discussions over alliances and presidential choices ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Otti maintaining that his support for Tinubu in his official capacity should be distinguished from his position on the Labour Party's presidential candidate.