Labour Party Shake-Up: Gov Otti Stands Ground, Snubs Defection Rumours

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has firmly declared that he has no intention of leaving the Labour Party (LP) for any other political platform.

According to reports, Otti emphasized that the party has been reclaimed from the control of its former chairman, Julius Abure.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, the governor stated that Abure can no longer lay claim to the chairmanship of the party, citing a clear judgment from the Supreme Court.

“Labour has been reclaimed. I will send you the Supreme Court judgment. Once you read it, you’ll understand that Abure is merely deceiving himself. He’s out. Anyone can declare themselves president—does that make them one?” Otti remarked.

When asked by host Oseni Rufai whether he had plans to defect, the governor responded with a firm “no.”

He noted that he had previously been a member of the PDP, APGA, and APC, but it was the Labour Party that gave him the mandate to govern.

“I’ve been in PDP, APGA, and APC, but the party that brought me to power is the Labour Party,” he stated.

Pressed further, he added, “I’m not God. If there’s no Labour Party tomorrow, that’s a different issue.”

He also rejected the idea that all politicians must align with the ruling party, saying:
“Not everyone must join the APC. This is a democracy. President Bola Tinubu stuck with AD, AC, and ACN before the formation of APC. Had he kept switching, he wouldn’t be president today,” Otti concluded.