Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has dismissed rumours circulating on social media alleging that he has defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress. The clarification was contained in a statement released on Monday by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu.
Kanu described the report as entirely false and the handiwork of political opponents unsettled by Otti’s growing popularity and track record of performance. He maintained that the governor remains a loyal member of the Labour Party and that the rumours were a “desperate attempt to distract Abians and create unnecessary confusion.”
“Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve. His focus remains unshaken, to rebuild Abia, restore accountability, and deliver the dividends of democracy to every citizen of the state,” Kanu stated.
The commissioner recalled that during the October edition of Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians, the governor had clearly reiterated his lack of interest in political realignments or defections, noting that his priority was good governance, not political manoeuvring. “It is important to remind the public that only last week, during the October edition of ‘Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,’ the Governor made it unequivocally clear that his interest is not in political permutations or defections, but in service to humanity and the transformation of Abia State. He reaffirmed that leadership, to him, is about impact, not political convenience,” Kanu added.
He further highlighted that the Otti administration has maintained a consistent policy direction rooted in transparency, fiscal responsibility, infrastructural development, economic growth, youth empowerment, and the restoration of public trust in government. “These are values synonymous with the Labour Party’s ideals, values that the Governor will never compromise for any political expediency,” he stated.
Kanu urged residents to disregard the fake report, describing it as another attempt by detractors to divert attention from the government’s achievements. “We wish to assure Abians that Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in his mission to continue to build a new Abia where truth, justice, and equity prevail under the banner of the Labour Party,” he said.
It will be recalled that in May, Governor Otti had clarified that he did not need to join the APC to maintain a cordial relationship with President Bola Tinubu, noting that not everyone must belong to the ruling party to contribute meaningfully to national development.
