Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has dismissed claims that he plans to dump the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that his relationship with President Bola Tinubu is solid and doesn’t require a change of political camp.
His statement comes amid a wave of political realignments in the South-South, with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, both defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC—alongside members of the Delta State House of Assembly.
At their official welcome ceremony earlier this week, Okowa, who served as PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, explained that the move was necessary to keep Delta connected to the nation’s power centre in Abuja.
But Governor Otti isn’t buying into that logic.
Speaking during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, the former banker-turned-politician pushed back against the notion that power or proximity to influence should be tied to party lines.
- BREAKING: Anambra Teen Allegedly Impregnates 10 Girls Including his Master’s Daughter
- Governance in Nigeria is Now a Crime Scene; Let’s Dismantle this Criminality — Says Peter Obi
- Police Detain Two Nigerian Air Force Personnel, Others For Torturing Kaduna Petrol Seller To Death
- “VeryDarkMan was invited several times to respond to allegations, but he failed to honour the invitations” — EFCC Confirms Arrest of VDM, Gives Reasons why He is Kept in Custody, Grants Administrative Bail
- JAMB 2025 UTME: Over 1.5 Million Candidates Score Below 200 out 1.9 Million Registered Candidates
- 150 million Nigerians out of 230 million Have Access to Decent Electricity Supply, We are Trying — Minister of Power
“I’m already closer to the centre than some of those joining APC,” he said when asked about the rumours surrounding his political future. “There’s no need for Governor Otti to defect. My party is not in crisis.”
Otti also pointed out that loyalty to principles matters in politics, recalling President Tinubu’s journey through the political wilderness before the APC emerged.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held on to Alliance for Democracy, Action Congress, and later Action Congress of Nigeria before the APC came. If he had jumped ship at the wrong time, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Sometimes, you need to stand for something.”
When pressed about the ongoing leadership tussle within the Labour Party, Otti admitted he couldn’t predict what the future holds.
“I’m not God. I can’t say whether there’ll still be a Labour Party tomorrow,” he said frankly.
According to him, Julius Abure, the current embattled national chairman, no longer holds legitimate leadership as his tenure has ended. A Caretaker Committee, he added, is currently steering the affairs of the party.
Though the political atmosphere remains tense, Otti’s tone was calm, steady, and measured—offering clarity in a time of confusion.
Governor Otti, within just 22 months in office, has received praises from Abia citizens and Nigerians at large for his impactful and developmental leadership. People have already began to propose that he won’t need to campaign for his second term bid, as the impact of his administration has given the victory already.
