Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has downplayed recent rumors suggesting he plans to leave the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he is already closer to the seat of power than many of those who recently switched parties.
The speculation emerged after a wave of high-profile defections in Delta State, where former governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the current governor Sheriff Oborevwori officially joined the APC. Their move was presented as a strategic decision to align Delta more closely with the federal government in Abuja.
But Governor Otti is not buying into that logic. During an appearance on Arise Television, the Abia leader openly laughed at the suggestion that he needed to jump ship to gain favor or access in Abuja.
“Governor Otti is not decamping and my party is not on shaky ground,” he stated, directly addressing the swirling reports. When asked if joining the APC would bring him closer to power, Otti replied firmly: “I am even closer to the centre than some of them.”
He added that political relevance is not only tied to the party one belongs to but also to credibility and vision. “This is democracy,” he said, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s own political evolution.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held on to his Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), before becoming APC. If he was (defection), he won’t be President today. Sometimes, you have to also stand for something.”
While Otti was clear that he has no immediate plans to leave the Labour Party, he also noted the uncertainty that comes with politics. In response to a question about his long-term future in the party amid internal leadership challenges, he said, “I am not God. I cannot say if there’s no LP tomorrow.”
