Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has dismissed claims that he intends to defect from the Labour Party alongside Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
Speaking on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Otti clarified that while Obi has decided to leave the Labour Party, he personally has no plans to follow the same path.
The governor disclosed that the former Anambra State governor had informed him directly of his decision and that he respected and supported the move, stressing that their political choices were independent of each other.
“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.”
Otti, however, declined to disclose the political platform Obi plans to join following his departure from the Labour Party.
Reacting to recent comments by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who publicly urged him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Abia governor said he would not be distracted by political overtures.
“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 been a key figure within the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election, though he is yet to officially join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which the coalition has adopted as its political platform.
Nonetheless, speculation continues to mount that the former Labour Party presidential candidate may formally declare for the ADC on Wednesday.
What you should know
Alex Otti’s comments come amid intense political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, especially within opposition circles.
While Peter Obi’s planned exit from the Labour Party has fueled speculation about a wave of defections, Otti has drawn a clear line by reaffirming his loyalty to the party that produced his governorship victory. His stance suggests a possible internal effort to reform or reposition the Labour Party rather than abandon it outright.
At the same time, Obi’s expected move to the ADC is seen as part of broader opposition coalition strategies aimed at challenging the ruling party in 2027.
