Defections: I have no plan to defect from Labour Party — Gov Otti

Defections: I have no plan to defect from Labour Party — Gov Otti

Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has debunked rumours that he is perfecting plans to dump the Labour Party,LP, and defect to All Progressives Congress, APC

The governor said he remains a member of LP, the platform that brought him to power, adding that there are no plans to abandon the party contrary to speculations.

Otti, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, denied holding any nocturnal meeting with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to perfect plans to join the APC.

The statement reads:”The report that His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, held a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State over alleged planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is false, baseless and unfounded. It’s completely devoid of substance and 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 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 alleged.”