Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has firmly dismissed speculations that he may defect from the Labour Party (LP), declaring his resolve to remain within the party despite the decision of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to leave the platform.
Governor Otti made this position clear on Tuesday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, amid growing political realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space and deepening internal crises rocking the Labour Party.
According to the governor, Obi had personally informed him of his intention to exit the party, a decision he said he respected and supported. However, Otti stressed that Obi’s move would not determine his own political future, as he remains committed to rebuilding and repositioning the Labour Party.
“I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi did. I did not come into the party because of him,” Otti explained. “He has communicated his intention to leave the Labour Party, and I gave him my blessings. But I have decided to remain in the Labour Party and continue the struggle to rescue and reposition it.”
Otti described the Labour Party as the political platform that provided him the opportunity to serve the people of Abia State, adding that loyalty and responsibility demand he stays to help stabilise the party at a critical moment.
“That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight through this crisis and succeed in repositioning the Labour Party, then we can begin to have conversations about other political options. For now, I am not defecting to any party,” he said.
The governor’s comments come against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which has seen rival factions lay claim to the party’s national leadership, resulting in legal battles, internal divisions, and the defection of several prominent members.
The crisis has also coincided with the emergence of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a possible rallying platform for opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political observers believe Peter Obi’s planned exit from the Labour Party may be linked to broader consultations aimed at building a stronger coalition capable of mounting a credible presidential challenge in 2027.
Although Obi has yet to formally declare his next political destination, his growing engagements with opposition leaders across party lines have fuelled speculation about a possible presidential bid under a new or restructured political platform.
Reacting to calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Otti said he had no interest in being drawn into political distractions.
“Ordinarily, I would not respond to such matters,” Otti said, adding that his primary focus remains governance and delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Abia State.
He nonetheless acknowledged Kalu’s recent distribution of financial support to vulnerable residents in the state during the festive period, describing the gesture as commendable and consistent with calls for greater social support.
“I thank him for doing that,” the governor said, while noting that his administration prefers a measured and principled response to political provocations.
Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Otti remarked, “You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks,” underscoring his resolve to remain focused on governance rather than political altercations.
As Nigeria’s opposition landscape continues to evolve ahead of the 2027 elections, Otti’s stance signals a determination to stabilise the Labour Party from within, even as key figures like Peter Obi explore alternative platforms to pursue broader national ambitions.
