Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed fresh rumours claiming he has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the reports as “false, baseless, and mischievous political propaganda.”
The speculation began after some online users circulated a photograph showing Otti during a recent courtesy visit to the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah. The image sparked widespread claims that Otti’s meeting was part of a political move ahead of his alleged defection to the ruling APC.
Reacting to the report on Monday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, issued a statement on behalf of the governor, making it clear that Otti has no intention of leaving the Labour Party.
According to the statement, “Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve.”
The commissioner described the rumours as a deliberate attempt by political propagandists to create confusion and distract the government from its developmental agenda.
He said, “There is no truth whatsoever in the claim that the governor has joined the APC or is planning to do so. This is yet another fabrication by those who are threatened by the achievements and popularity of the present administration.”
Governor Otti, through his media team, reiterated that his focus is on rebuilding Abia State, restoring accountability, and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
The statement added, “His focus remains unshaken — to rebuild Abia, restore accountability, and deliver the dividends of democracy to every citizen of the state.”
The Labour Party governor also advised members of the public to disregard what he called “cheap propaganda” designed to score political points ahead of the 2027 elections.
Otti, who came into power in 2023 after a historic victory that ended years of dominance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, has often been the target of political speculation. His administration has continued to stress transparency, fiscal discipline, and infrastructural renewal as its core priorities.
Observers believe that the latest defection rumour reflects growing political tension in the South-East as parties begin subtle manoeuvres towards the next general election.
Despite the rumours, Otti maintains that he remains fully loyal to the Labour Party, vowing to stay focused on his administration’s agenda and not be distracted by what he called “political noise.”
