By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Otti: I’m Staying in Labour Party Despite Obi’s Exit
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ruled out any plan to leave the Labour Party, even as former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, prepares to move on from the platform.
The governor made his position clear on Tuesday during his monthly interaction with journalists in Umuahia, where he said his political loyalty remains with the Labour Party, which he described as the vehicle that brought him to office.
Otti explained that while Obi had personally informed him of his intention to quit the party, he chose a different path, insisting that his focus is on rebuilding and strengthening the party rather than abandoning it at a critical moment.
According to the governor, his membership of the Labour Party predates Obi’s entry, stressing that his political journey within the party was not tied to any individual.
“I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi did. He told me he intends to leave, and I wished him well. But my decision is to stay and continue the work of rescuing and repositioning the Labour Party,” Otti said.
He added that walking away now would amount to neglecting a platform that gave him the mandate to govern Abia State.
“This is the party that brought me to power. If we stay, fight through the challenges and succeed in fixing the party, then other conversations can come later. For now, defection is not on my table,” he stated.
Otti also responded to recent calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who publicly urged him to dump the Labour Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor dismissed the appeal, saying he was not interested in political distractions or moves that would shift attention away from governance.
While acknowledging Kalu’s recent distribution of financial support to vulnerable residents in Abia during the Christmas season, Otti noted that such gestures aligned with his own call for support for the less privileged, adding that governance should remain people-focused rather than politically driven.
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