By: OBSERVERS TIMES.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has firmly refuted claims that he is planning to defect from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He dismissed the speculations as “false, baseless, and unfounded.”
Through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti clarified that he remains a loyal member of the LP, the platform that propelled him to power. He denied holding any secret meetings with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to orchestrate a switch to the APC.
Ekeoma explained that Governor Otti and other governors attended the birthday celebration of Governor Uzodinma’s twin daughters after a National Economic Council meeting, emphasizing that the event was purely social and had no political undertones.
“It’s natural for Governor Otti’s impressive performance, popularity, and towering credentials as the Governor of Abia State to attract admiration and permutations from interested parties,” Ekeoma stated. “However, Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies. Such decisions must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people.”
He further advised against prematurely focusing on the 2027 elections, urging the public to prioritize governance and development. “Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if politics of 2027, instead of governance is allowed to dominate discussions less than two years into the administration,” Ekeoma said.
“Finally, we wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter as falsely alleged,” he concluded.
