Abia State Governor Alex Otti has firmly dismissed growing speculation that he plans to dump the Labour Party following the exit of 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 addressed the rumours head-on, offering clarity on his relationship with Obi and his political future.
The governor revealed that Peter Obi personally informed him of his decision to leave the Labour Party. According to Otti, while he fully respects and supports Obi’s choice, it does not change his own commitment to the party that brought him into office.
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Otti made it clear that his political journey in the Labour Party predates Obi’s entry, stressing that his membership was not tied to the former Anambra State governor.
“If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him,” Otti said.
He added that although Obi has decided to move on, his own focus remains on strengthening the Labour Party from within.
“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,” the governor stated.
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Otti described the Labour Party as the political platform that made his historic victory possible in Abia State, insisting that loyalty and responsibility demand he stay to fix its internal challenges rather than abandon it at a critical moment.
“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,” he said.
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Otti Responds to APC Overtures
The Abia governor also responded to public calls from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who recently urged him to join the All Progressives Congress.
Otti said he would not allow political distractions to derail his focus on governance and service delivery.
“Ordinarily, I would not respond to matters like that,” he said. “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.”
Acknowledging Kalu’s recent outreach to vulnerable people, Otti commended the gesture while drawing a clear line between humanitarian acts and political persuasion.
“So, seeing that he heeded the call and distributed money to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that,” he noted.
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However, the governor emphasized that he had taken a deliberate and principled decision not to engage further with political commentary aimed at provoking reactions.
A Message of Focus and Resolve
To underline his stance, Otti referenced the words of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, using the quote to reinforce his resolve to stay focused on governance rather than political noise.
“You will never get to your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks,” Otti quoted, adding that his administration remains committed to delivering results for the people of Abia State.
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With his comments, Governor Otti has drawn a clear boundary between personal political relationships and institutional loyalty, signaling that while political realignments may continue ahead of future elections, his immediate priority remains governance, party rebuilding, and fulfilling the mandate given to him by Abia voters.
