Rita Edochie Reacts to Rumours of Governor Otti’s Possible Defection to APC

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has expressed disappointment over circulating rumours that Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti may leave the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  Edochie described her initial reaction as one of dismay, recalling the optimism that surrounded Otti when he first emerged under the Labour Party. She said he symbolized a new approach to governance—one focused on service, principles, and performance rather than politics and party affiliations.

“The news of Governor Alex Otti’s decamping from the Labour Party to the APC left many in Abia State with mixed emotions,” she wrote. “For some, it was politics as usual, another chapter in the endless dance of power and alignment. But for people like me, it was a sad reminder of how quickly hope can fade in our political space.”

Edochie acknowledged that practical considerations could motivate the move. Aligning with the federal government, she noted, could bring increased development, infrastructure projects, and greater attention to the state.

She added a cautionary note to politicians contemplating party switches: “If you don’t have any skeletons in your cupboards, remain in your party. Truly good things don’t last at all, and this news has confirmed it.”

Highlighting Otti’s emergence as a technocrat and reformer, Edochie said his initial rise under the Labour Party represented courage and a promise that politics could focus on principles rather than party colours.