Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dismissed speculation that he plans to defect from the Labour Party alongside Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
Otti made the clarification on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The governor disclosed that the former Anambra State governor had personally informed him of his decision to leave the Labour Party, adding that he had given his support to Obi’s choice. However, Otti said he would remain in the party.
“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him,” Otti said.
“He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessings. But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party.
“That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight and get to the end, and we are unable to reposition the Labour Party, then we can discuss other options. Therefore, for now, I am not defecting to any party.”
The Abia governor, however, declined to disclose the political party Obi intends to join.
Responding to calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti said he would not be distracted.
“Ordinarily, I would not respond to matters like that. However, those of you who listened to my Christmas message would recall that I called on our people who have enough to extend support to the less privileged, particularly at this period,” he said.
“So, seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that.
“But I have also taken a principled decision not to dignify all the comments he made with any response.
“I am sure you are aware of a man called Winston Churchill. He was a two-time prime minister of the United Kingdom and lived from 1874 to 1965.
“He was a profound thinker and writer who said, ‘You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.’ We will remain focused on our job.”
Peter Obi has remained a prominent figure within the opposition coalition but is yet to formally join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which the group has adopted as its platform for the 2027 general election.
Speculation has continued in the public space that the former Labour Party presidential candidate may formally declare for the ADC on Wednesday.
