Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has clarified that he did not join the Labour Party (LP) because of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stating he had been a member before Mr Obi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Umuahia on Tuesday, Otti said he would not follow Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite growing speculation of a planned defection ahead of the 2027 elections. “If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi, so I did not join the party with him,” he said, confirming that Obi had informed him of his plan to leave the LP and that he (Otti) had given his blessing.
He added, “He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessing. But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party.”
Otti said his commitment is to rebuilding the LP rather than defecting, emphasizing that it is the platform that brought him to office.
He dismissed calls from Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting his focus remains on service delivery in Abia State. “I am not defecting to any party,” he stated, stressing that his priority is governance and political stability in the state.
Meanwhile, recent defections by other political figures ahead of 2027—including governors aligning with the APC—have continued to fuel discussions on shifting alliances, as national politics enters a period of realignment.