…Abia Governor Says NEC Role Makes Opposition Untenable, Deflects Direct Endorsement Question
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he is not in a position to oppose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid because of his role in the National Economic Council, while maintaining that he still has a presidential candidate in the Labour Party.
CDA News Nigeria reports that Otti made both positions clear in an exclusive interview on Arise Television on Friday, in an exchange that left the question of a formal endorsement open rather than settled.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the governor said publicly opposing the President while serving within the same administration would lead to “implosion.” “I am not in a position to oppose his candidacy. 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,” he said.
Pressed directly on whether he was supporting Tinubu for re-election, Otti responded: “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?”
CDA News Nigeria notes that the reply was given in response to the question rather than as a clear declaration of endorsement. The governor had earlier stated that he still has a presidential candidate in the Labour Party, and confirmed he was referring to the Labour Party’s candidate.
He also said some of Tinubu’s policies resonated with his own thinking, citing the removal of fuel subsidy as an example. “Quite frankly, there are a lot of things 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,” Otti said.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the exchange leaves two positions standing side by side: Otti’s stated inability to oppose Tinubu as a serving NEC member, and his insistence that he retains a Labour Party presidential candidate. The remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Source verification: Original reporting based on Governor Alex Otti’s interview on Arise Television. The quoted reply was given in response to a question and is presented as such, not as a confirmed endorsement. Statements are attributed to the governor.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting. Quotes are presented in context, and contested positions are attributed to their source.
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