I Won’t Leave Labour Party with Obi — Abia Governor Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has disclosed that he told the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that he would not dump the party alongside him.

Governor Otti made this known while responding to questions during his monthly media parley in Umuahia. He said Obi informed him of his decision to leave the Labour Party, but he made it clear that he would remain behind to continue the struggle to rescue the party.

Otti said he gave his blessings to the former Anambra State governor, stressing that he would only consider leaving the Labour Party if ongoing efforts to salvage it fail.

The governor, who is the national leader of the Labour Party, expressed confidence that the party could still be revived ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also noted that he joined the Labour Party before Obi, making it unnecessary for him to defect alongside him to another political platform.

According to Otti, defection would only be an option if the Labour Party becomes irredeemable.

He said:
“I joined Labour Party before Peter Obi, I did not join the Party with him and he has communicated me that he was leaving LP and I gave him blessings but I remain in LP.

“I told him that I will have to continue with the struggle to rescue LP. That’s the party that brought me to power and if we fight and we can’t rescue LP, then, we can then discuss options but for now, I am not deflecting with him.”

Reacting to calls by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the only way to secure re-election in 2027, Otti said he had resolved not to be distracted by such comments.

He explained that he ordinarily would not respond to issues concerning the Deputy Speaker but addressed it because the question was raised.

“But, since you have asked, the first thing to do for heeding to the call that I made in my 2025 Christmas message to people of the appealing to our people who have means to extend consideration to the less privileged particularly at this season, so, he heeded that call and distributed Rice and Money, I thank him for doing that, but, I have also taken principled decision not to dignify all the comments that he made.

“I am sure your are aware of a Man called Wilson Churchill, a two time British Prime Minister who once said, ‘You will never get to your destination if you stop and throw stone at any dog that barks’. We remain focused on our job and not to be distracted,” Governor Otti maintained.

The governor said Abia State has recorded tremendous progress under his administration and assured residents that more transformations would be achieved in the remaining months of his tenure.

He reaffirmed his commitment to massive development across the state, vowing that Abia would no longer be left behind.

Otti also appealed for the continued support of the people, promising that every community would feel the positive impact of his administration.

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