“I Have No Plans To Defect To APC” – Abia Gov Otti

By Ayodele Oni & Suleiman Anyalewechi

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said his rumoured planned defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is baseless.

Special Adviser to the Governor,

Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Saturday explained that the meeting of Otti with Governor Hope Uzodinma, in Abuja after the National Economic Summit meeting was purely for a birthday celebration and had nothing to do with politics.

It pointed out that Governor Otti’s political decisions, would always be guided by the wills of the people.

“The report that His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, held a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State over his alleged planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is false, baseless and unfounded. It’s completely devoid of substance and thus should be disregarded.

“After the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, April 24, Governor Otti and a few of his colleagues joined Governor Uzodinma to attend the birthday celebration of his twin daughters, an event that had nothing to do with politics.

“It’s natural for Governor Otti’s impressive performance, popularity and towering credentials as the Governor of Abia State to attract admiration and permutations from interested parties.

“However, Governor Otti’s political decisions, especially those that would have huge impact and far-reaching consequences on Abians, would at all times be taken in conjunction with majority of Abians and his allies. Such decisions must be justified and be seen to be in the overriding interest of Abia people.

“Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if politics of 2027, instead of governance is allowed to dominate discussions less than two years into the administration.

“Finally, we wish to emphatically state that Governor Otti remains a member of the Labour Party and is presently not planning or discussing with anyone to defect to the APC or any other party for that matter as falsely alleged. ”

The speculation that Otti was on his way out of the LP, was accentuated by the wholesale defection of Delta state  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, structure to the APC earlier in the week.

The mass defection, which included Governor  Sherrif Oborevwori, his immediate predecessor in office,and the running mate to  Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 Presidential election, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Members of the State House of  Assembly had provoked widespread insinuation of more serving Governors joining the APC train .

Governor Otti has been speculated to be one of the state Governors seriously considering defection to the APC, especially, given the leadership crisis in his Party.