Otti Affirms Loyalty to Labour Party Amid APC Defection Rumours

Umuahia, Abia State — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed speculation that he is preparing to leave the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with journalists in Umuahia, the state capital, Otti stated firmly, “I am in the Labour Party, and there is no election happening tomorrow. But if an election were to happen tomorrow, I would still run on the Labour Party platform. But then, nobody knows tomorrow.”

The governor’s clarification comes amid persistent pressure from APC leaders in Abia, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who has openly courted Otti to join the ruling party.

During a rally last year, Kalu emphasized his commitment to making Abia an APC state, noting that Otti had achieved significant development milestones, particularly in infrastructure, thanks to support from President Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader. Kalu urged Abians to “honour the president by ensuring the state is secured for the APC.”

In addition, prominent APC figures, including Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, have hinted that plans for Otti’s defection are underway. Ahmad, in a post on X, remarked, “Abia loading…31/36,” highlighting the party’s near-total control of Nigerian governorships, with 30 out of 36 states already under APC leadership.

Despite these overtures, Otti’s remarks indicate that he remains committed to the Labour Party as he navigates the political dynamics in Abia State.